Christian Horner outlined Red Bull’s goals for 2024 upon his arrival at the Bahrain F1 testing,
Christian Horner’s Red Bull is gearing up for the 2024 Formula 1 season, poised to defend its drivers’ and constructors’ titles that are just days away.
Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, expressed his excitement about witnessing their car in motion ahead of the 2024 Formula 1 season and described it as a momentous occasion.
Last season, Max Verstappen of Red Bull effortlessly claimed the drivers’ championship title as his team handily secured the constructors’ championship. Testing for the new season has already commenced in Bahrain with Horner seen in attendance ahead of its official commencement on March 2nd at the Grand Prix event.
In the midst of allegations from a female colleague about “inappropriate behavior” by Horner, Red Bull has launched an investigation into the reigning champions’ preparations. Despite his denial of wrongdoing, Horner (50) remains under scrutiny.
After concluding a filming day at Silverstone, Horner and the Red Bull team arrived in Bahrain. While attending an event held at the British Grand Prix venue, Horner prioritized his squad’s goals for the upcoming season and made it clear that everything was “business as usual” to him.
Horner expressed his delight at returning to Silverstone and witnessing the RB20 car in action. He was amazed by its performance, especially when it drove down the pitlane for the very first time – an unforgettable experience that always holds a special place. Furthermore, Horner highlighted how vital this Filming Day is not only for drivers but also for marketing department’s success.
Both Max Verstappen and Checo Perez had a positive experience with the car. Although there was no major highlight in terms of performance, it is crucial to focus on the fundamentals and complete some necessary tasks before proceeding to Bahrain. The team anticipates putting the vehicle through its paces under dry conditions soon. Our primary objective for 2024 should be safeguarding both titles won previously.
In March of 2024, the racing season kicks off with three competitions taking place in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Thereafter, other notable grands prix events such as Japan, China and Miami will be held until May when Emilia Romagna hosts Europe’s inaugural race for the season.
Verstappen, the current world champion, dominated 19 out of 22 races in the 2023 season. The remaining victories were shared between Perez and Sainz from Ferrari. Despite his impressive performance last year, Verstappen anticipates a more challenging competition this time around as he expects his rivals to narrow down the gap.
Verstappen observed that many cars have clearly established the direction they wish to pursue. He noted that this is a natural outcome when regulations remain consistent for extended periods, as teams begin to identify areas where they can improve lap times and converge around similar sidepod designs.
Looking ahead to the forthcoming season, Andrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, expressed positivity about their prospects. Highlighting that there will be two more seasons under these regulations, he suggested it is possible that during this current season some teams may already feel they are positioned to challenge Red Bull’s performance level.
