Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said it doesn't matter which of his two drivers wins the title: there is no preference
Sergio Pérez's victory at last week's Monaco GP has Red Bull racing to assure the whole world that it will not interfere with the positions of its two drivers in the 2022 world title fight. According to team boss Christian Horner, it makes no difference which of his two drivers will be champion, contact that they stay at home and the collective work remains the same.
Horner spoke about the matter still in Monte Carlo, right after the race. Pérez is only 15 points behind Max Verstappen, a small distance in the overall scope of the competition. The management guarantees: everything is open.
"We don't care which of the two will be champion. Of course the Constructors' World Championship is enormously important, but [in the Drivers' Championship] Max and Czech are Red Bull drivers and have the same chance. It's a very long season and there will be ups and downs, but it's great that they are both in the funnel," he told the British magazine Autosport.
"Czech is at the best moment of his career and is doing a great job. It wasn't a one-off win, we saw how he took pole in Jeddah and he's in rich form. It's fantastic for the team, but we need the two of them to keep working together the way they are," he made clear.
"Ferrari had the fastest car [in Monaco], at least in qualifying, you couldn't be sure in the race, but they are huge opponents and we need to work collectively to make sure we finish in front of them," he continued.
Horner denied that the decision in the Spanish GP, when the team ordered Pérez to give way to Verstappen, put the Mexican driver in a situation to have to respond in Monaco. The performance, he believes, was another demonstration of his good moment.
"He always liked the track. I remember when he drove for my team [in GP2], he was always very strong at this circuit and especially in Azerbaijan. We talked after Barcelona and there was no problem, he clearly understood what the panorama was and I believe he was fine. His moment is great, his confidence is high and he is driving well. The difference between him and Max is very small", he stated.
Pérez himself has already reiterated his hope to fight, yes, for victories and whatever else comes his way. "It's clear. They don't even need to say it, it's clear for my side of the garage and the whole team. If it wasn't like that, I wouldn't be here."
Verstappen went the same way and assured that the team's internal relationship has no reason to change whatever the course of the championship. "Why would it change? We work very well as a team. May the best one win," he concluded.
Formula One returns next weekend, June 10-12, for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.