Red Bull expect Mercedes, Ferrari fight in 2020, but fearful of 2021
Red Bull expect Mercedes, Ferrari fight in 2020, but fearful of 2021
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes next season's title race could be the most exciting in Formula 1 for some time, but is unsure whether the thrills will carry over to 2021.
Mercedes have romped to a sixth straight title double in 2019, with Lewis Hamilton also securing his sixth individual crown.
However, signs have pointed towards both Red Bull and Ferrari closing the gap as the season has gone on – the Scuderia recently took six straight pole positions.
Although Horner believes the three could come even closer together next year, the sweeping regulation changes for 2021 prompt concerns that the field could become spread again.
"They are the benchmark and it feels like the grid is concertinaing a bit," Horner said.
"Usually a regulation change spreads it apart. It might be ironic that 2020 might be the closest year we have, with a three-way battle, before everything changes for 2021."
Red Bull started 2019 with doubts over their ability to maintain pace with Mercedes and Ferrari as they switched to Honda power units, but Verstappen has continued to deliver strong results to keep them third in the standings.
"This year was always going to be a transitional year with a new engine partner," Horner said.
"I have to say all compliments to Honda with all the progress they have made this year with performance.
"We have made good progress throughout the year, we have had a couple of wins, we have achieved a couple of poles although only started on pole once, and we have been contender to win a few races this year.
"In Monaco we were very competitive, Hungary as well, we were in a position potentially to win that race, and [in the United States] again we have been that competitive.
"So we are on the right trajectory. It is important that we carry the momentum into the winter and then into the beginning of next year."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
FIA boss HITS OUT at 'court of public opinion' after interference allegations
- 3 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Horner reveals Verstappen SECRET as team reveal surprise name change
- 2 hours ago
Ferrari announce DRASTIC change as Verstappen issues dire warning to bosses - GPFans F1 Recap
- Today 00:27
Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
- Yesterday 21:57
Horner admits Red Bull at MAJOR disadvantage with new rules
- Yesterday 20:57
Related news
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
Red Bull already sending parts to F1 race MONTHS away
Schumacher reveals what F1 pundits are NOT allowed to say about Red Bull
F1 team 'set to announce MEGA signing' in major Red Bull challenge
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860