Horner warns grid that Red Bull have already started focus on next year
General
Christian Horner has perhaps had the easier job of any team boss so far this season, with how dominant his Red Bull team have been, as well as the perennial front-runner Max Verstappen running away with the championship. However, that doesn't mean he can steer away from answering the press' questions on the cost cap.
Are restrictions forcing Red Bull to think about next year already?
Red Bull would have had significantly less air tunnel time than the rest of the teams so far this season for a few reasons. One of which includes the cost cap restrictions put into place after their breach of the budget last season, although Horner still refuses to let that damper his spirits "I would say the most significant thing is that we came into the year with a competitive car. I think if we'd have been having to fix issues on the current car, then that would have been disastrous for us." remaining positive throughout his answer, "I think thankfully we had a good solid base. You can see our rate of development compared to our competitors is somewhat more moderate. And that's simply because we just don't have the resource time available. So the resource time we do have available, we have to pick and choose where we apply it. And of course, I'm sure all these guys will tell you the same, that a lot of focus already is going into next year's car."
Hamilton Verstappen SuperTeam
Later in the press conference, the Brit would be posed a question about forming a superteam with Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen, although the team boss was quick to dismiss it. "It's nothing that we've ever considered in the recent past. I mean, you know, obviously, to pay for those two drivers in itself, you'd probably have to sell the factory." While still admitting that Hamilton still has the talent to lead F1 from the front, and admits Red Bull has tried to tempt him before. "But, you know, Lewis is obviously a great driver. Hopefully, he'll be around for many years to come. There's been a couple of occasions in, you know, in history that we've had a couple of conversations about the possibility of joining Red Bull, but that's not been any time recently."