Red Bull expect Mercedes to "bounce back hard" in Baku

Red Bull

Red Bull expect Mercedes to "bounce back hard" in Baku

Red Bull leads the constructors' standings ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Ewan Gale

Wednesday 2 June 2021 08:00

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has insisted the team is under no illusion that Mercedes will "bounce back hard" at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Silver Arrows endured a torrid time in Monaco last time out with Red Bull taking the lead in the constructors' championship and Max Verstappen jumping ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings.

Despite the momentum generated at the Principality, Horner has warned of the retaliation expected from Mercedes at a vastly different track layout in Baku.

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"I think Azerbaijan is a very different street circuit to [Monaco], very long straights and a good track for Mercedes in the past," said Horner.

"We are not under any illusions, they are going to bounce back hard and we have to go there and attack the weekend exactly how we have at every race this season."

Red Bull results 'a testimony to teamwork

Red Bull hasn't topped the standings since its triumphant 2013 campaign, with the team working through various difficult stages in the turbo-hybrid era in the quest to return to the summit.

When asked if these experiences provided Red Bull with an advantage against Mercedes, Horner responded: "I think it is a great race team, we have great strength in depth.

"We finished first or second in the first five races now and it has been a phenomenal performance when you consider the majority of the car is a carryover from last year.

"I think the whole team, particularly through the pandemic is really galvanised and come together and it is testimony to that teamwork that we are able to get the result[s] we have."