After poor results, Lawson faces growing doubts. But Horner backs the rookie, urging patience and calm amid rising pressure and criticism.
While the papaya team didn’t grab pole in the Shanghai Sprint Qualifying, their pace in Melbourne raised serious eyebrows up and down the paddock. George Russell even warned that McLaren could be next year’s Red Bull — dominating nearly every race.
So, is Red Bull’s team boss worried?
“They were clearly very fast — both in qualifying and especially in the first half of the race,” said Horner. “On intermediate tyres, their degradation was very low. They’ve done a great job. The car is strong, and they’ve got two drivers pushing each other hard. The race eventually came back to us a little as conditions changed, others made mistakes, and Max was able to fight back. He finished less than a second behind — who knows what a lap or two more might’ve brought?”
Despite the late charge, Horner admits: “McLaren looked really strong. I think even here in China, they’re probably the team to beat again.”
Technical Directive: Who Was Really Affected?
A new FIA directive, aimed at tightening checks on rear wings, sparked talk of whether McLaren has been impacted more than Red Bull. Did Red Bull have to make any last-minute changes?
“That’s the FIA’s job — to make sure everything is within the rules,” Horner said. “They clearly saw something they didn’t like at the last race and reacted with a new technical directive this week. It’s their right. Will it have a big impact across the paddock? I don’t know yet. But this is F1 — new directives come almost every week.”
Backing Lawson: ‘Ignore the Noise’
While Max Verstappen continues to perform at the front, reserve driver Liam Lawson is going through a rough patch. After being knocked out in Q1 in Melbourne, he ended up last in the Shanghai sprint qualifying.
Still, Horner isn’t giving up on him.
“Liam’s got his head screwed on. It’s been a tough initiation, but he still clocked the second-fastest lap during the race. I told him, ‘Ignore the criticism, ignore social media. Keep your head down, and it’ll come.’ He just needs a bit of time.”
Red Bull’s 2024: Still a Contender?
The RB21 may not have started as strongly as its predecessor, but Horner is confident it can still deliver wins. Is he disappointed?
“You can see it in the lap times — everyone’s faster. We’ve changed some key characteristics of the car. That gives us a broader platform to develop from. It’s a development race that runs all the way to Abu Dhabi. It’s going to be a nine-month marathon. If we get more races like Melbourne, it’s going to be a fantastic season.”
2026 and the Honda Farewell
With sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026, will Red Bull shift focus early and sacrifice this season?
“It’ll depend on how the championship goes. But we have to keep pushing development. In F1, if you stand still, you fall behind. Of course, there’s the dilemma of how to split resources between now and 2026. But no matter what, we’re always chasing performance.”
That year also marks the end of Red Bull’s partnership with Honda, who will switch to powering Aston Martin. Is Horner already feeling nostalgic?
“Honda is a fantastic racing organization. Since they joined us in 2019, we’ve won six world titles and more than 60 races together. It’s been their most successful run in F1 history. Their passion and commitment have been second to none — and their power unit has been a key part of our success. It’ll be hard to say sayonara at the end of the year.”
“But what comes next is exciting too. For the first time, we’ll be producing our own power units, entirely in-house at Milton Keynes. That’s a huge step for Red Bull — and one we’re very proud of.”
- Discover More>Doohan Pips Gasly as Alpine Stumble in SQ1
- Follow us on >Facebook and >Twitter for F1 updates
Lawson Struggles as Horner Keeps the Faith Lawson Struggles as Horner Keeps the Faith
