Horner's foot 'tapping more than Leclerc's helmet'

Red Bull

Horner's foot 'tapping more than Leclerc's helmet'

Red Bull's reliability struggles crossed Horner's mind during the closing stages in Imola

Sam Hall

Thursday 28 April 2022 12:44

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Red Bull team principal Chrisitan Horner has joked his foot was tapping "more than Charles Leclerc's helmet" in the closing stages of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Red Bull enjoyed a dominant weekend at Imola as the team claimed a record 58-point haul from a possible 59 available.

The total was made possible due to the sprint format that was used for the first time this season in which Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished the Saturday race first and third before securing a one-two in the grand prix.

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Verstappen held a lead of over 12 seconds from Perez and Leclerc before the Ferrari driver spun and dropped down the order on lap 54.

But given Red Bull's reliability struggles in the opening races, Horner told the F1 Nation podcast he was far from calm in the closing stages.

Referencing the severe porpoising suffered by Ferrari's F1-75, Horner joked: “My foot was tapping more than Charles Leclerc’s helmet.

"The problem with a race like that is the last 10-15 laps, you can only lose and the weather, there are reports of spots of rain coming and all the reliability things start coming into your mind…

“You can see it’s easy to put a wheel on a wet kerb or something like that so it just seems to take forever those last 10-15 laps but it’s always a relief to see the chequered flag.”

Horner hails "phenomenal" Honda support

Red Bull may no longer be running Honda badged power units but the team does still receive support from the Japanese manufacturer.

After retirements in Bahrain and Australia, Horner was quick to praise the behind-the-scenes work that aided Red Bull's Imola display.

“It was maximum points for Max," explained Horner. "We were one off the maximum as a team with a one-three in the sprint race, a one-two on Sunday.

"It was a phenomenal team performance and I think all credit to the drivers, to the team at the track and all the guys and girls back in Milton Keynes.

"The support we have had in Japan from Sakura, from HRC, has been amazing so a phenomenal weekend."