Horner cynical: "As Lewis said we're just an energy drink manufacturer"

Max Verstappen has become a target for some media, especially since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In a way, the Dutchman is used to that because he is more often in trouble for his daring actions on track, but team boss Christian Horner is always ready to take the blows for his star driver.

Horner is quite successful in diverting attention away from Verstappen as much as possible. Instead, he has entered a lengthy war of words with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who has long been the focus of attention.

In conversation with Racer.com the Red Bull Racing team boss once again lashed out at Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. "The power that they wield with media around the world, I think we pale into insignificance in comparison," the 48-year-old Briton argues.

Red Bull is also a big brand in its own right, of course, but according to Horner, it can't be compared to the brand of Mercedes-Benz. "As Lewis Hamilton indeed called us, we’re just an energy drinks company going racing," he says somewhat sarcastically.

According to Horner, Mercedes has become a machine as a Formula One team, due to its prolonged period of dominance and the power of its parent company behind it. "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," the Red Bull team boss concludes.