Christian Horner isn’t interested in listening to Toto Wolff’s Red Bull claim
Christian Horner has admitted he’s learned to block out noise from Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, after claims made about the 2024 Formula One title race. Wolff has suggested Max Verstappen is already the world champion elect, but Horner doesn’t believe it’s that simple.
Normal service resumed for Verstappen at the Japanese Grand Prix, as the Dutchman waltzed to his third victory of the campaign. The Red Bull driver, who came in 12 seconds faster than team-mate Sergio Perez, already has a 14-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings.
It led to suggestions from Wolff that the title has already been wrapped up by Verstappen as he wrote off Mercedes’ chances – something Horner refutes. The Red Bull team principal said: “It’s very early to write off your year. There’s still 20 races to go, but I’ve learned not to listen too much to what Toto [Wolff] said over the years.”
It’s undoubtedly been a sensational start to the campaign for Verstappen, who despite the rumours linking him with a move away from Red Bull has maintained his form so far. Horner believes that’s down to his mentality both on and off the track.
“I think he’s in great shape,” the Brit said. “He’s changed trainer over the winter. He’s fit, he is lean and the car is in a great window. You can hear the spare capacity he has in the car.
“He’s wanting to know about not just who’s behind him, but who’s behind that as well, and what times are they doing. The capacity he has is very impressive. So, yeah, the form that he had last year has just carried through.”
If Verstappen doesn’t win the eventual championship, it’s hard to see it going anywhere else but the Red Bull garage. That’s because in second place is Perez, who has picked up 64 points from the first four races this year. The first non-Red Bull racer in the standings is Charles Leclerc, but the Monegasque driver is a hefty 19 points behind Verstappen.
Racing continues next weekend when Formula One returns to China for the first time since 2019. The Shanghai International Circuit hasn’t featured on the Formula One calendar for three seasons, after it was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sir Lewis Hamilton was the last driver to finish top of the podium in China, but a repeat of that looks unlikely, given the form Verstappen and Red Bull have been in so far this term.
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