Christian Horner claims F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali warned Red Bull over Max Verstappen’s dominance
Christian Horner has stated that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali warned Red Bull about Max Verstappen’s dominance impacting viewership.
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Christian Horner Stefano Domenicali (images via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen‘s dominance in the 2023 F1 season was significant, with the Red Bull team winning almost every race except the Singapore Grand Prix. This overwhelming success raised concerns about the sport’s entertainment value, leading to potential disengagement from fans.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed that CEO Stefano Domenicali urged him to stop winning every race. He faced constant pressure from the Italian throughout the 2023 season. Domenicali was worried about declining TV viewership due to Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance.
Horner recalled Domenicali’s frustration over their consistent victories, especially when they won by around 20 seconds. The Singapore Grand Prix was the only race where Verstappen struggled in qualifying, allowing Ferrari to secure the win. Overall, the predictability of the season where Red Bull was always expected to win, led to decreased viewer engagement.
I was getting grief from Stefano [Domenicali] every weekend that the TV figures are dwindling because we’re set for another year of Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominance. There was a lot of pressure coming, saying: ‘Stop winning races by 20 seconds.
Christian Horner told Motorsports
In 2024, other teams have significantly improved their cars, making the competition much closer. McLaren, for example, went from mid-pack finishes in 2023 to now topping the table, showing just how much progress they’ve made.
Ferrari has also stepped up, winning several races and providing stiff competition to both Red Bull and McLaren. This way the fans can stay engaged and the sport remains unpredictable.
Christian Horner claims Red Bull’s issues persist despite reverting to the old car setup
Christian Horner hinted that a skeptic might suspect something had changed with Red Bull’s performance. He explained that even when the team reverted the car to its earlier setup, like the one used at the Chinese Grand Prix, the issues persisted.
Initially, Red Bull ran a new setup for the 2024 races, but when problems arose, it switched back to its reliable 2023 setup. Despite this, the issues remained, and other teams had made significant improvements, causing Red Bull to lose its lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
If one was a sceptic and somewhat paranoid, you say something’s changed. Because even when we’ve gone back to the configuration of the car that, for example, we had in China, we still have some of the same issues that we have experienced.
Christian Horner explained
The Milton Keynes outfit has only six races left to reclaim its lead from McLaren. They must acknowledge that Lando Norris is currently faster than Max Verstappen, having finished two races with a 20-second lead over him.
As Red Bull works to regain the Constructors’ Championship lead, it needs to be careful not to lose its advantage in the Drivers’ Standings. It must balance its focus to ensure it doesn’t sacrifice one title while chasing another.
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Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)