“It’s just energized everyone in the team,” Christian Horner on the significance of Max Verstappen’s RB18

“It’s just energized everyone in the team,” Christian Horner on the significance of Max Verstappen’s RB18

Red Bull Racing's Team Principal Christian Horner and Max Verstappen after the latter's maiden championship win

Christian Horner the RedBull team Principal has recently shed some light on the importance that the number 1 on Max Verstappen’s car holds for the team going into the 2022 season of Formula1.

It has been stated in Planetf1 that Christian Horner believes putting the number 1 on RB18 has helped the team in recharging its batteries ahead of the 2022 Formula1 season. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were engaged in a season-long battle for the 2021 title in which Max ultimately came on top at the last race of the season.

redbull team
RedBull team

Every year the reigning Champion is allowed to switch to number 1 from their regular numbers but ultimately it is the choice of the driver. Lewis Hamilton has over the years declined the opportunity to put the number 1 on his car but Max has done the opposite and is going to race with the number “1” on his car during the 2022 season.

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While talking about his decision Max has previously said “How many times do you get the opportunity to swap, and number one is the best number out there.”

“For me, it was very straightforward to pick the number one.”

Christian Horner on Max Verstappen’s decision

Christian Horner
Christian Horner

The RedBull team Principal was recently pressed to give his opinion on Max’s choice and the latter said “I mean, sticking that number one on the car after all the pain that we went through last year, the fight that it was in 2021, and now the fight is to make sure we retain it on the car… it’s just energized everyone in the team.”

“You can see a spring in everybody’s step and it gives people confidence as well, which is such an important thing in any sport – which is to not have arrogance, but confidence – and I think that runs through the organization.”

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen

The RedBull’s next challenge is to make sure they are able to retain the title during the 2022 season, but given the progress that we all witnessed by Ferrari and McLaren during the first pre-season testing, it is is not going to be a walk in the park for the RedBull team. Christian Horner believes the title race for the 2022 season is going to be split four ways between McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and, RedBull.

“It’s what everybody wants to see.’

Ferrari and McLaren
Ferrari and McLaren

“You want to see the best drivers in the world, fighting wheel-to-wheel, and I think Ferrari could be in there this year, McLaren looking strong, so you might have a few candidates.”

“And don’t forget George Russell,” he added, “I think he’s going to be a key component in this championship, as well.”

Max Verstappen after winning the WDC(world Driver’s Championship) in 2021

The 2022 Formula1 season is shaping up nicely and given what Christian Horner has said, the 2022 season could very well prove to be one of the most closely fought seasons between the teams, and if this is the case during 2022, then it bodes well for the sport and also for all the fans who would be tuning in during the 2022 extravaganza.

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