Christian Horner right about one thing as Max Verstappen question is answered

24 June 2024 , 11:06

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Max Verstappen is doing the business for Red Bull (Image: Getty Images)

Red Bull's cars have been so good over the last few years that it became an easy stick with which to beat Max Verstappen.

Yes, he won three drivers' titles in a row. But the performance gap was so laughably large that it seemed anyone, apart from Sergio Perez, clearly, could do the same if behind the wheel of one of Red Bull's fearsome racing machines.

Verstappen has been able to consistently get the best out of his car and that’s why he smashed a swathe of records on the way to his third championship success last year. But still the situation begged that age-old question: How much of it is the car, and how much the driver?

Red Bull's current situation looks to have finally provided an answer. Excitingly, after no competition for the defending champions for so long, their rivals are lining up to take a swing at them on a weekly basis.

McLaren, undoubtedly, are the ones doing the best job. Lando Norris has become a regular thorn in Verstappen's side and really ought to have more than just the one win to show for it. Had he not suffered a poor launch of the line in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, he most likely would have secured his second F1 career victory.

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Norris declared he had the fastest car on the track. At the very least, McLaren seem to have developed a machine which can match those in a Red Bull livery. Ferrari and Mercedes still have a bit of work to do in that regard, but they are both closer than they have been in a long time.

And yet, Verstappen's victory in Barcelona on Sunday took his season tally to seven from 10 Grands Prix. On a more balanced playing field than he has seen at any point since early 2022, the Dutchman is still coming up with the goods.

Max Verstappen celebrates on the Spanish Grand Prix podium with Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton (AFP via Getty Images)

Christian Horner said as much as he reacted to the win in Spain. "He's always been fantastic under pressure... Max is making a key difference," said the Red Bull chief. And he's correct in declaring Verstappen the single key variable in the current situation.

Earlier this year, at the height of Red Bull's internal conflict, I was told by sources within the team that, if it came down to choosing between Horner and Verstappen, they would be happy to let the driver go. Everyone in Milton Keynes know his talent and importance but, on some level, he was still viewed as replaceable.

If Verstappen continues to deliver under the new, intense pressure he is now facing from rivals at other teams, it's hard to imagine Red Bull still being so blasé about the idea of losing their star driver.

Daniel Moxon