Christian Horner emphasized that the energy team is focused on getting the most out of its own package and doesn't think too much about the weaknesses of the opposing teams
Christian Horner stated that Red Bull avoids thinking about the reliability problems of rival teams in Formula 1. According to the manager, the energy team focuses on getting the most out of its own package, as it cannot control or contribute to the competitors' misfortunes.
Ferrari has been Red Bull's main adversary in the 2022 Formula One season, but the Italian team has suffered from several problems throughout the year. In addition to strategic errors, the Maranello squad saw its engine take wins away from Charles Leclerc at the Spanish and Azerbaijan GPs, as well as costing Carlos Sainz Jr. a double at the Austrian GP.
At the Red Bull Ring itself, Leclerc suffered in the closing laps with the F1-75's throttle problem, but managed to work around it to secure the win and regain second place in the World Championship.
Asked whether the competitors' weaknesses give Red Bull any comfort, Horner replied, "Not really. We are not very focused on them."
"We can't control or contribute to that in any way. I think we have to focus on ourselves and just get the most out of our own package," he pondered. "They had a very strong car [in Austria] and could very well have finished first and second," he assumed.
In the manager's view, even though Verstappen holds a 38-point lead over Charles Leclerc in the Drivers' World Championship standings, the Formula 1 title race remains "absolutely" wide open.
"We are only halfway through the championship and things change a lot. There is still a long way to go," he commented. "I would say Austria was kind of a damage limitation, as we got the pole, the sprint race win and second place [in the race]. I think Max only lost five points to Charles in the Drivers' World Championship, and obviously the damage was relatively contained in the Constructors," he closed.