Verstappen Leclerc respect "genuine" - Horner

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in Imola — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull

Verstappen Leclerc respect "genuine" - Horner

Verstappen and Leclerc have emerged as the early title protagonists

Sam Hall

Thursday 5 May 2022 08:00

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has claimed the respect between early-season title protagonists Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc is "genuine".

Verstappen and Leclerc have grown up racing together and have been rivals since their days in karting.

The pair have evenly split the four grands prix victories on offer so far this year and although there have been a few flashpoints, the battle has been fought with more of a civil tone than last season's title fight.

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"I think they have grown up racing each other in karting and so on, they know each other very well," explained Horner.

"They come from the same generation and there is a genuine respect between the two of them."

Red Bull one-two "a great response" to reliability woes

Although Red Bull has had the pace to match Ferrari at each race so far, the team has been badly hampered by reliability issues.

The problems have twice caused Verstappen to retire whilst Sergio Perez was also hindered at the Bahrain season-opener.

Asked after securing a one-two result at Imola if the issues had now been consigned to the past, Horner joked: "Ask me in Abu Dhabi!

"It was a great response both in the factory in Milton Keynes and in Japan. The best possible response was to come and achieve the maximum score bar one point across the two days of racing.

"A great fight back and I am very proud of the whole team."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes