Red Bull and Mercedes can expect McLaren to remain a thorny issue - Christian Horner

Ricciardo, McLaren, RussianGP — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull

Red Bull and Mercedes can expect McLaren to remain a thorny issue - Horner

McLaren has proven problematic for both teams in the last two races

Ian Parkes

Sunday 3 October 2021 08:00

Christian Horner is fully expecting McLaren to prove a thorn in the side of both Red Bull and Mercedes on occasion over the remaining seven races of a captivating F1 title fight.

After claiming its first win for nine years and first one-two for 12 in the Italian Grand Prix, McLaren should have record back-to-back victories in Russia last weekend.

But a poor late-race strategy call as rain fell cost Lando Norris his maiden triumph, leading to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton leading home Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.

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In both races, McLaren proved particularly problematic, with Verstappen unable to pass Daniel Ricciardo at Monza, and Lewis Hamilton finding himself stuck behind the Australian, and then later on Norris, at the Sochi Autodrom.

Appreciating the remaining seven races are unlikely to be straight fights between Red Bull and Mercedes, Verstappen and Hamilton, Horner said: "They [McLaren] have obviously made great progress this year.

"There are certain circuits they seem to perform well at and others that are perhaps more challenging for them.

"Lando deserved to win the race [in Russia] but I am sure there will be some circuits between now and the end of the year that they are going to fare well at as well."

Red Bull now facing challenging pit stops

Another area of concern for Horner is his team's pit stops that have cost time and results of late.

At Monza, human error contributed to an 11-second stop for Verstappen as a result of a recently introduced FIA technical directive designed to marginally slow down a tyre change.

In Sochi, two different problems contributed to a slow stop for Sergio Perez.

"That wasn’t a TD issue," added Horner, whose team has long prided itself on its sub-two second stops.

"Unfortunately, there was a slight delay in the wheel coming off and then the clutch was released whilst he was on the stand and that compounded the problem, so that’s what cost Sergio time."

Red Bull, though, has not been the only team affected by a seemingly unpopular TD since its introduction.

Asked whether the FIA needed to look into its decision, Horner said: "I doubt it will be reversed.

"I just think introducing changes are never great but it is what it is, it’s the same for everybody so we just have to get on with it."