Reuters
Formula One F1 – Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 20, 2021 Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in the FIA Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 20, 2021 Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in the FIA Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Red Bull F1 are set to undergo a major upheaval behind the scenes in the powertrain department at the end of this year. With Honda bowing out of the sport, the Austrian team have decided they are going to make their own power units. They have already opened a new powertrains facility and have managed to poach some major names from title rivals, Mercedes. When asked what made the Red Bull job so attractive that it would make people leave a company like Mercedes, team boss Christian Horner recalled a certain barb Lewis Hamilton threw at them a decade ago.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
When asked by Autocar what would make people leave the security of a major car manufacturer for an energy drinks brand, Horner replied, “When you put it like that, thanks very much! You sound like Lewis Hamilton.”
Reuters
Formula One F1. Portuguese Grand Prix. Algarve International Circuit. Portimao, Portugal. Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks in the Team Principals Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS
The incident Horner was referring to took place in 2011. The Milton Keynes-based outfit had won their first-ever world title the previous year. And at the start of the new season, Hamilton was confident that they wouldn’t go on to dominate the sport.
At the time, he had said, “Red Bull are not a manufacturer. They are a drinks company.”
Watch Story: Lewis Hamilton: Ranking His World Titles From 2008 to 2020
Horner explains why people want to move from Mercedes to Red Bull
The four-time championship-winning team’s boss said, “It’s a leap of faith, but it’s an exciting one. I think people have seen how and what Red Bull has done in motorsport and the commitment it has.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in action during the race REUTERS/Nacho Doce
“It’s based in the UK, it’s 30 miles from Brixworth, they don’t need to move house or move their children from school and it’s a chance to be involved in something from scratch.”
It’ll be great to see just how well Red Bull perform from 2022 onwards. Early signs are indeed very promising. But for now, their total focus would be on the ongoing campaign in which they currently lead the standings after the Monaco race.
For the first time in the V6-hybrid era, the team has a genuine chance of winning the title. But 18 races is a long, long journey to traverse. Things can change in the blink of an eye. The Austrian team will need to be consistent all throughout, they can’t afford to mess up.
Who do you think will lift the title at the end of the year? Let us know in the comments below.
Read More: Who Owns the Red Bull F1 Team?
