Red Bull predict "epic" season-long fight with "sleeping giant" Ferrari

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has predicted an "epic" battle with Ferrari across the remaining 21 races of the season after a thrilling Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Ferrari took a commanding victory in the opening race of the season in Bahrain but it was Max Verstappen that came out on top in Jeddah.

The Scuderia last tasted F1 drivers' championship success in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen with its most recent constructors' crown coming in 2008, leading Horner to describe the team as a "sleeping giant".

"They're all competitive teams, Ferrari is a big team and has been a sleeping giant for a couple of years," Horner explained to Sky Sports.

"Ferrari has got a great car, they've got great drivers. It was a really tough battle today and if that's what we're set for in the rest of the season it's going to be epic."

When asked about Red Bull's ability to keep up with Ferrari throughout the season, Horner conceded:"It's about the cost cap and where you place your development.

"We've got to keep winding the handle hard now because with such new regulations the steps are going to be big and fast.

"Our opponents are going to stand still so we have to keep development coming through to this car."

Horner laments safety car timing

Horner was left bemoaning the timing of the safety car following a crash for the Williams of Nicholas Latifi, which occurred just after race leader Sergio Perez had pitted for tyres, dropping the Mexican to P4.

"Such bad luck for Checo. He had done all the hard work at the beginning of the race and then to have the safety car come out at the wrong time, you can't do anything about that. A great weekend for him," Horner added.

"He's driven brilliantly all weekend and I think he's taken a lot of confidence. He got that pole, his race pace was great and he just got unlucky with the track position with the safety car. As we've seen, that sometimes happens."

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