Christian Horner warns the title race is far from over, as Tsunoda quietly impresses and Verstappen keeps Red Bull in the hunt.
While Max Verstappen remains firmly in the title hunt, Christian Horner believes the 2025 Formula 1 season is shaping up to be a long, hard-fought battle. “It’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint,” the Red Bull team boss says — and there’s still everything to play for.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda is settling into life at Red Bull Racing, bringing a spark of positivity and a hunger to learn. After a tough Sprint qualifying, the Japanese driver was given extra mileage in a two-year-old car during a private test at Silverstone — a rare chance to build chemistry with the team and understand its intricate engineering culture.
“It was really just about giving Yuki more seat time,” Horner explained. “His mileage with Red Bull Racing had been very limited, so this was a valuable opportunity for him to get more familiar with the systems, the engineers, and the way we operate.”
Despite rainy British weather cutting into the test, Tsunoda completed enough laps to gain meaningful experience.
Asked where Tsunoda still lags behind Verstappen, Horner downplayed the idea of a single weak spot. “It’s always about the fine details. There’s no specific corner or section – it’s just about piecing the lap together,” he said.
But Tsunoda is turning heads. “He’s brought a really positive energy to the team,” Horner noted. “He’s a big personality, and certainly quick. As his confidence grows, I think we’ll see him move up the grid. It’s all about track time now — understanding the engineering side, the way we work, the procedures.”
Now in his fifth F1 season, Tsunoda has matured into a more complete driver. “He gives great feedback, and that helps guide us. What stands out is that he’s not fixated on what Max is doing. He focuses on his own car, his own setup — and that’s the right mindset.”
Max Still Setting the Standard
As for Verstappen, Horner says his performance level remains sky-high, even when compared to his dominant 2021 form. “He’s been operating at this elite level since 2020, really. He still finds ways to surprise us,” Horner said.
Despite a rough start in Saudi Arabia, Red Bull saw encouraging signs in the race. “Our pace on both the medium and hard tyres was strong — we were genuinely competitive with McLaren for the first time in race trim this year.”
Horner continues to be amazed by Max’s ability to squeeze everything from the car, especially under pressure. “That final Q3 run, with everything on the line — that’s when the great ones deliver. And Max lives in that space. He performs at an extraordinary level.”
Red Bull Development Continues Amid Regulation Shake-Up
But even as Verstappen shines, the RB20 hasn’t always looked like the class of the field. In Miami, Red Bull was the third-fastest team, despite introducing a new floor — one of several updates following Saudi Arabia.
Further upgrades are expected for Imola, but Horner is managing expectations. “There’s no major upgrade coming for Imola — I’m not sure where that rumor started,” he said. “We’re at a stage in the regulations now where improvements are incremental.”
More change is coming, however, with a tweak to front wing rules set to debut in Barcelona. “That could shake things up. Will some teams benefit? Will some lose out? We’ll only know once we get there.”
Despite the RB20’s mixed form, Red Bull is still delivering results. “We’re the only team other than McLaren to have won a race this year. We’ve taken some poles too. We’re pushing hard to improve the car — and being just 12 points off the lead at this point in the season, it’s still wide open.”
Championship Outlook: No One Can Be Counted Out Yet
Horner refuses to write off anyone in the title fight. “This championship is far from over. I think you’ve got to consider at least the top six as serious contenders,” he said.
“If last year taught us anything, it’s that things can change fast. The new front wing regulations could shuffle the deck. Some teams might gain, others might struggle — we’ll see how it plays out.”
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Horner: F1 Title Race a Marathon, Not Just Max’s Show Horner: F1 Title Race a Marathon, Not Just Max’s Show