Red Bull reveal Verstappen 'stress' in driving 'flat out'

Christian Horner has conceded that races this season are more "stressful" compared to last year as Max Verstappen is needing to drive "flat out" to claim victories. 

Red Bull has seen its dominance eroded following substantial improvements made by F1 rivals McLaren and Mercedes 

Nobody could touch Red Bull last year, as highlighted by the team winning 22 out of 23 races. This season is a different story, as McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari have all won at least once. 

Verstappen has still won seven of the 12 grands prix overall, but has been forced to push his car more to its limits than he did last season.

Due to how hard Red Bull is being forced to work to remain on top, Horner is finding the team's wins this season more satisfying.

"When we were winning races by 30 to 40 seconds last year, it was slightly less stressful," Horner told select media including RacingNews365. 

"But it's weird, because when you're winning races by that margin, you're just focused on reliability and other elements. 

"Now you don't get a chance to think about reliability because it's all about driving flat out. I think it's more rewarding to win a hard-fought race, of course it is."

Horner goes from 'unicorn year' to 'normal F1'

The way this season has played out is drastically different to last year. Red Bull cruised to both titles in the previous campaign, to the extent that Verstappen's points alone would have been enough to win the constructors' championship.

That is not the case this year, which is a large reason why an underperforming Sergio Perez has found himself in a precarious position regarding his Red Bull future. 

Whilst victories this season are very rewarding for Horner, he will never forget what his team achieved last year, in what was a campaign that saw almost every team-based record shattered.

It was the most dominant season in the history of F1 and one Horner expects will be reflected on by many in the future. 

"It's only with hindsight that 2023 will become a very special year and what was achieved because it really was, and I keep referring to it, as a unicorn year," stated Horner. "They don't exist.

"What we did last year was never achieved before, and may never be achieved again.

"So this is far more normal F1, but we still have an 80-something point lead in the drivers' championship and we've extended our lead in the constructors'."