Red Bull taking nothing for granted in Ferrari battle

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has insisted Red Bull will take "nothing for granted" in the remaining races of the season.

The Milton Keynes-based team has opened up a 97-point gap over nearest rival Ferrari despite the Scuderia's challenge this season often seeing Charles Leclerc rush ahead of Max Verstappen on track.

Consistent errors from Ferrari's pit wall, reliability failures with regard to the power unit and driver mistakes have all led to Leclerc facing an 80-point deficit to Verstappen.

With only nine races to go, reigning champion Verstappen is well on his way to his second triumph with a margin wide enough to allow for three retirements.

F1 records also put Verstappen in good stead, with 44 points the largest deficit overturned by a driver to become world champion - although the Dutchman is on course to beat that after trailing Leclerc by 46 after the Australian Grand Prix this year.

But Horner has insisted complacency will not creep in for Red Bull in its quest for a first championship double since 2013.

“The points tables look healthy and it’s a great way to sign off into the summer break but there is still a lot of racing to go," said Horner.

“Ferrari are quick, Mercedes are coming back into the game…there’s still a long, long way to go in this championship, plus a sprint race, so we don’t take anything for granted.

“There is still a lot of racing to do and at very different venues.”

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