Horner: Stable regulations will make second Red Bull seat less attractive

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner believes interest in the second Red Bull seat will cool during the 2024 Formula 1 season.

The Milton Keynes-based squad enjoyed a highly dominant campaign this year, winning 21 out of the 22 races staged.

Max Verstappen cruised to his third World Championship while team-mate Sergio Perez struggled alongside him, leading to questions over his future with the team.

Red Bull will soon be forced to decide on the second seat as Perez's current contract runs until the end of the 2024 campaign.

Rumours during the year linked drivers such as Lando Norris to the drive - but Horner stated that he expects the field to close up going forward which will see interest cease in Red Bull drive.

“The RB19 has been the most successful car in the history of the sport so you can imagine that it’s a pretty attractive car to have been in,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I think we’ve got great drivers - what will happen with stable regulations, it’s going to get a lot closer, we’ve got some great teams that we’re competing against. With stable regulations, 2024 is not going to be like 2023.

“We’re expecting a lot more competition from McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari and all of the drivers who are competing for them.”

F1's technical regulations will not change until the 2026 campaign.

Ricciardo an option?

After making his F1 comeback with AlphaTauri earlier this year, ex-Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo has been linked to the 2025 drive alongside Verstappen.

Horner highlighted that Red Bull is in a privileged position by having several options available to it over its 2025 driver decision.

“As a team you want to field the most competitive pairing you can,” he said. “You want the right dynamic in a team and Max and Checo have been a successful pairing.

“Checo in his three years with us has finished fourth, third and second. He’s on a good trajectory. Daniel is well known to us.

“It’s great to have him back in the Red Bull fold. Everything is open for 2025 onwards, so for us to have options internally and externally is no bad place to be.”