Horner warns Wolff 'plotting' Mercedes fightback

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has warned that Toto Wolff is "plotting" Mercedes fight back, following a difficult two years without challenging for championships.

In the last two seasons they have only taken one victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix last year, while Lewis Hamilton scored his first pole position in 2023 since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Since the regulations overhaul at the beginning of the 2022 season, Red Bull has dominated with their package while Mercedes has struggled to get on top after electing to go with an aggressive `zero sidepod' car concept.

Mercedes ditched this in favour of a more conventional car design earlier this season, but it has now left them playing catch up on their rivals.

Red Bull took their sixth Constructors' title in 2023 after Max Verstappen's win at the Japanese Grand Prix, putting them close to Mercedes' record eight title wins.

Horner: He's got something that they're working on

After their bitter rivalry during the 2021 season, Horner expects Wolff will be doing everything he can behind the scenes to get the Silver Arrows back to winning ways.

"Sport isn't sport without rivalry and obviously we haven't seen much of him the last couple of years, but I'm sure he's plotting. I'm sure he's got something that they're working on," he told Sky Sports.

"They're a great team, they're a big team, they've got great drivers, they'll be looking to fight back. It hurts when you're losing, if it doesn't hurt then you shouldn't be doing it.

"We had a long period six to seven seasons of hurt of being the bridesmaid. But we never lost sight of where we wanted to be, and we were the team to break that domination.

"Everything goes in cycles, at some point somebody will beat us whether it's Mercedes or Ferrari, McLaren, ston Martin or whoever. But all we can control is what we're doing. So that's what we're focused on is ourselves."