Horner fears strong McLaren in Bahrain: 'Need to find a bit ourselves'

11:00, 10 Apr

byKada Sarkozi

Can McLaren once again have the quickest car next weekend? Red Bull team principal Christian Horner sees no reason why the Woking-based team shouldn't be provisionally at the front on paper at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Horner on Red Bull's expectations for the 2025 Bahrain GP

At the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen put together a strong weekend, and managed to convert his pole position into his first victory of the current season.

In Japan, team principal Christian Horner looked ahead to their battle on a track in Sakhir, where the Woking-based team did not have the best of time in previous seasons.

"McLaren in Bahrain will be very strong. I mean, it's a track that should theoretically play to their strengths. They have the quickest car at the moment and I think that we're going to need to find a bit to beat them," he explained what he expects from their rivals in the Suzuka paddock.

Max Verstappen himself also has doubts about what to expect from his team in Bahrain. The Dutchman previously explained that heat will be quite a challenge for his team this weekend, and revealed what his team would need work improve on.

In the drivers' standings, it is now very close between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, as the Briton leads by only a single point. Oscar Piastri is currently in third position, 12 points behind the Red Bull Racing driver.

This article was written in collaboration with Cas van de Kleut