Christian Horner signals Red Bull 'dilemma' in title fight aim

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has highlighted the “dilemma” facing his squad as it looks to salvage its championship campaign.

The Milton Keynes-baed team has won the last four drivers' championships with Max Verstappen, as well as two constructors' titles in that time.

However, rivals McLaren have started the current campaign strongly with victories in three of the four opening rounds of the year - Australia, China and Bahrain. Red Bull's only success so far was in Japan.

As the sport is in the final season of the current technical regulations, the title fight had been projected to be a closely fought affair.

Teams have an extra predicament to deal with, though, as they are also constructing their 2026 cars whilst also developing their 2025 machines.

When asked if Red Bull will develop its car right to the end of the season, Horner told media including RacingNews365: “Inevitably, depending on how the championship plays out. You’ve got to keep developing.

“In this business, if you're standing still, you're going backwards.

“And of course, there's that dilemma with next year's regulations - where do you apply resource, where you don't.

“But inevitably, you've got to keep chasing performance, keep getting performance on the car.”

Red Bull has faced issues with its car across the last year, which have plagued Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson in the second seat alongside Verstappen.

Horner declared Red Bull made major changes over the winter break to provide its drivers with a more stable platform.

“I think we’ve significantly changed certain characteristics of the car,” he said. “It gives us a broader base from which to work with now.

“It’s a development race between now and Abu Dhabi in December, so it’s going to be a nine-month marathon.”