Red Bull boss Christian Horner increases Mercedes ante amid F1 rivalry – “See us as a threat” | F1 | Sports

Christian Horner believes the recent “cues” from rivals can only mean that Red Bull is doing something right this season, adding that Mercedes must see them as a “threat” as tensions between the two teams mount.

Mercedes and Red Bull have been involved in a battle of words this season since Lewis Hamilton suggested a foul after winning the Spanish Grand Prix when Mercedes questioned the legality of their rival’s rear wing. Team boss Toto Wolff described Horner as “a bit of a cream puff.”

Red Bull was quick to defend their car, adding that it was fully in compliance with FIA regulations, but it escalated to the point where the governing body had to step in and inform the teams that they were addressing the problem with implementing tests to deal with illegal flexible wings.

The teams not only fought off the track, but on the track, Hamilton and Max Verstappen had an explosive start to the season.

But Horner believes that any word swapped between the two words means they are successfully getting under the skin of their main rivals.

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“You put in an incredible amount of effort, more than you think,” he told Motorsport.com.

“It’s a clear strategy. It just goes to show that they see us as a threat. And I think you’re doing something right when people start pointing their fingers at you. “

In the drivers’ standings, Hamilton is now eight points ahead of Verstappen, although the Dutchman is 33 points ahead of the British Grand Prix.

But with a DNF and damage sustained at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 23-year-old has only scored two points in the same number of races.

“We won six races this year, a phenomenal number,” added Horner. “More than in the last few years and I think the title fight is very exciting for everyone.”

“It’s been seven long years that we’ve played a minor role. We’ve won a few races by tactical skill, but we’ve never been able to stick together for a whole season, now we have the resources.”

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“We just have to do better than in the first half! We just have to keep doing what we are already doing, ”concluded Horner.

“We will face challenges on and off the track.

“We just have to continue on the path that we as a team want to achieve maximum performance in every session, in every qualifying and in every race.

“At the end of the season, the stakes will inevitably increase. At this point, you need to check off the events one by one.

“The closer you get to the end, the more the pressure builds up …”