Horner: Solid start 'vital' for Red Bull to cope with cost cap penalty

Christian Horner says it is "vital" for Red Bull to cope with the cost cap penalty, after the team continued their run of dominance at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Red Bull team boss praised the team for their work over the winter to produce a car that enables them to continue their dominance, while also suffering from the cost cap penalty. "I think the really positive thing for us is that we're not dealing with a fundamental issue that soaks up that resource and time," he told media, including RacingNews365.com . "So it was vital for us, to be able to cope with that [cost cap] penalty, to have a solid starting point. "You have to deal with [cost cap penalty] over a 12 month period, because it's not just this year's car, it's next year's car." Coming into the Bahrain GP weekend the team suffered problems compared to their blistering form in pre-season testing. Horner admitted that the team focused more on the race than qualifying, despite the lap from Max Verstappen that was seven tenths quicker than the pole lap in 2022. "We focused probably a little more on the race than we did on qualifying, and that paid its dividends today," he explained. "We were able to run up on the softer compound, particularly in the middle part of the race, and still have the durability. "It was a well executed Grand Prix, and after last year coming away with zero points, to have 43 on the board - feels like a good response."

Horner teases Aston Martin: Good to see old car going well

Horner also praised the job of Aston Martin after Fernando Alonso managed to achieve a podium on his debut with the team. The team turned heads last year when they appeared to copy their car concept at the Spanish Grand Prix, and now the team boss has made a dig at the team after they capped off a successful weekend. "I think it demonstrates to all the teams that it's possible. They've [Aston Martin] obviously done a good job over the winter," he teased. "They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery and it's good to see the old car going so well."