Horner realistic despite advantage over Ferrari: 'Just goes to show it'

Christian Horner could be quite satisfied with Red Bull Racing's result last weekend in Azerbaijan. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished first and second respectively, while Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both had to drop out. Despite the wider lead, the team boss expects Ferrari to still come back in the fight for the world title.

Where Ferrari started this season with Leclerc taking two victories in the first three race weekends, it went downhill with the performance of the Italians after the Australian Grand Prix. In Barcelona and Baku, the Monegasque even dropped out with problems with his car, causing him to lose expensive points.

Leclerc faces big challenge

The gap in the world championship is no mean feat for Leclerc. The difference with Verstappen ran up to 34 points. In addition, he had to give up his second place to Sergio Perez after last weekend, while George Russell is breathing down his neck with a gap of seventeen points. However, Horner is convinced that Ferrari will come back stronger.

"They will solve their problems. I have no doubt about that," he stated in conversation with Formule1.co.uk , after which he addressed the possible replacements to the engine. "In the end, that also means that it is inevitable that they will incur some grid penalties in the long run. But it's still a long season. We've already seen big swings in the standings over the last four or five races and that just goes to show how quickly things can turn around."