Verstappen’s brilliant comeback from 10th on the grid to victory in Hungary has helped the Dutchman to an 80-point lead in the F1 drivers’ championship.
But after another race in which Ferrari had a golden opportunity to help Charles Leclerc cut Verstappen’s lead, some are lamenting that the championship battle seems all but done.
It is a very different world to the intensity of the 2021 season, in which Red Bull Racing was plunged into a hard-fought title fight with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes that went all the way to the final round.
Asked after the Hungaroring race if there was a part of him that wanted things to be a little closer between Ferrari, and them, Horner said: “There’s not an iota of me that wants that.”
“Last year it was a 22-round heavyweight fight. And I’d rather not have to go through that again.”
But even though Red Bull and Verstappen appear to have the trophies of both championships in their hands, Horner remains cautious in warning that the titles are yet to be won.
“The points tables reflect that it’s going well, and it’s a great way to get into the summer break,” he said.
“But there are still a lot of races to go. Ferrari is fast, Mercedes is getting back into the game. There is still a long, long way to go in this championship, apart from a sprint race.”
“We don’t take anything for granted. There are still a lot of races to do. And they are very different situations.”
Red Bull’s dominance of the championship this year has come despite not having the fastest car at times, and has been reinforced by Ferrari’s reliability and strategy issues.
However, Horner believes that one of the strengths he has shown is not to get too excited, and he made a cheeky reference to Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto ‘s comments after the French GP, in which he pointed to a double in Hungary.
“I think even if we had won by a lap win, I would have been cautious,” Horner said. “I would never make a claim that we are going to finish first and second in the next race.”
“That’s how we go to races. We focus on the here and now and approach each race as it comes.”
