Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Lewis Hamilton and “the Mercedes media machine” have done everything they can to sway the narrative of this year’s Formula 1 title battle to try and heap pressure on Max Verstappen.
Verstappen enters this weekend’s season finale level on points with Hamilton but ahead on countback of wins.
Verstappen sustained two time penalties during his battle with Hamilton at last Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, prompting criticism of his driving style from some quarters.
Horner, speaking on Friday, continued to defend Verstappen and believes a certain narrative has formed, driven by comments made by Hamilton and Mercedes.
“Lewis is a seven-time world champion, he’s the most successful driver of all time, he has a standing obviously within the sport and what he says carries a lot of weight,” said Horner.
“I think he has used every tool available to him to put Max under pressure this year. He’s a competitive animal, you don’t become a seven-time world champion by not being a competitor like he is.
“Yes, I believe – and backed up by the Mercedes media machine – a huge amount of pressure has been placed on Max.
“What you’ve got to remember with Max is he’s just a young lad. He’s a 24-year-old that drives with bravery, with passion, with skill, with determination, and he’s just a guy living his dream, doing his job. And he’s up against not only Lewis but a huge machine in Mercedes-Benz.”
“I think all credit to him the way he’s handled that pressure this year and hasn’t been drawn into it, hasn’t been sucked into it, he’s just gone about his business and he hasn’t changed from Bahrain to Saudi, his approach or how he goes racing.”
Horner emphasised that Red Bull regards itself as the underdog heading into the finale.
“I mean if you think of the size of Mercedes globally they must be one of the biggest automotive companies in the world,” he said.
“The power that they wield with media around the world, I think we pale into insignificance in comparison. As Lewis Hamilton indeed called us, we’re just an energy drinks company going racing.
“So no, I think that Mercedes – Mercedes Formula 1 Team – they have become a machine over the last seven or eight years during their period of dominance and obviously have the weight and power of the parent company behind them.
“I can’t believe it’s particularly comfortable being beaten by an energy drinks manufacturer as a major OEM. That’s never sat comfortably, we know that, it’s been made quite clear to us.
“We’re a team of racers, we’re going racing, we’ve got a phenomenal driver who has driven his heart out this year, and it’s been intense on track and off track.
“I do think that the spotlight, even the narrative of this last week of this ‘Mad Max’ scenario, calling him crazy, there’s been a very clear narrative.”
What absolute garbage!! Poor wee Max, all the big boys picking on him. And of course being assisted and guided by sensible experienced people in his team – not! What it looks like to Joe Public, who indirectly pay all of their salaries by way of media subs, ticket prices and the purchase of the goods and services sponsoring and advertising on the cars (oh, didn’t you know, the sponsors don’t do this because they like to see the colour of their stickers, they do it to sell things!) is that Max is being guided, or should it be goaded, by team personnel who should know better. Max is a fabulously fast driver, but he makes mistakes and Alonso is mistaken praising him for fast sector times in qualifying last week when he binned it before the line – to finish first, first you must finish.
Right on the money.
What a foolish comment – perhaps consider reading the comments concerning Max in his early years and how at even 5 or six he was winning GK racing against others of ten or eleven. His determination was apparent , all through his early years ,and even leaving out one of the stages normally undertaken on his way to F1. Think on.
Idiot comment
What is this, a session of the Mean Girls at the local Jr. High?
Everyone in F-1 needs to just grow up.
dead right ……put max in the merk and he would win easily, LH was a also ran till he got into a merk same as bottas !! never did any good till Mer gave him the car , just watch were bottas will be next year . i can even see Mercedes telling George not to get in front of LH . Hope he shows LH how its done .