Red Bull respond to upgrade concern as McLaren apply pressure

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has denied his squad is struggling to develop its car as rival teams close its front-running gap.

At the start of the season, it appeared Red Bull was on course for another dominant campaign, winning five out of the opening seven races.

However, the following seven grands prix has seen it emerge victorious just twice, with McLaren and Mercedes getting involved at the front of the field. Max Verstappen, in particular, has not won for the past four races, his worst drought since late 2020.

Horner has asserted that Red Bull has not taken its focus away from car development as it seeks to maintain its position in the championship, which has been whittled down to just 42 points over a fast-charging McLaren.

“No, the whole team is still working flat out on this car, because with stable regulations, whatever we learn now is relevant to next year anyway,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“If you reflect on the first part of the year now, we're over half distance, we've won seven grands prix, we've won two or three sprint races, we're leading both championships.

“But over recent weeks, that constructors’ [lead] has diminished somewhat, and that's where our focus is.”

'Inevitable' that F1 field will get closer

Red Bull has had less wind tunnel development time than its rivals across the last handful of years as a result of its championship-winning achievements.

With a disadvantage over development and the regulation cycle being in its third year, Horner stated it is only natural other teams have caught up to Red Bull.

“Inevitably you get to the top of the curve, and we have less wind tunnel time than anybody because of the system of the ATR (aerodynamic testing regulations),” he said.

“That’s normal. You will continue to get convergence throughout next year as well. I think everybody is getting to the top of the curve

"One week it’s Mercedes, one week it’s McLaren, one week it’s Red Bull. Ferrari hasn’t popped up in a while, [but] it keeps moving around.”