F1 News: Christian Horner Reveals Worrying Factor That Could Topple Red Bull's Chances Of Winning In Japan

Saajan Jogia | Apr 6, 2024

Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, speaks at the Red Bull Fan Zone, a / Jay Janner/American-Statesman / USA

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed that Suzuka's low track temperatures at this time of the year could come in the way of Red Bull securing its third victory of the 2024 season. Despite Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez starting the Grand Prix at the front, the Red Bull boss expects close racing to happen in Japan tomorrow.

Key Takeaways:

• Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expressed concerns about Suzuka's low track temperatures potentially impacting Red Bull's performance in the upcoming race.
• Rain disrupted Thursday's Free Practice 2 session, leading to several teams canceling their runs, although race day is expected to be dry with temperatures around 19 degrees Celsius.
• The rescheduled 2024 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, typically held in September or October, presents challenges for teams in cooler conditions, but Horner remains optimistic about the race's competitiveness, especially with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez starting from the front row.

Ferrari - Japanese GP / Ferrari Press Image

Thursday's Free Practice 2 session wasn't a success as rain played spoilsport, and thus, several teams decided to cancel their runs. While rain is now not anticipated for race day, Horner is slightly concerned about the temperature hovering around the 19 degrees Celsius mark.

Typically held in September or October, the Grand Prix at Suzuka has been rescheduled for 2024 to fit into a packed 24-race calendar. Horner expressed his apprehension to Viaplay, highlighting the likelihood of the Japanese Grand Prix showcasing some closely contested racing. He said:

"I think we've understood the issues, but I think we saw that the race pace is more varied [heading into the race], and in these cooler conditions, how the tyres behave is going to be a challenging factor.

"But I am sure it is going to be an interesting race, and I am glad to be starting on the front row."

Highlighting Sergio Perez's impressive qualifying result, who was just 0.066s behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen, Horner added:

"It is Checo's best-ever qualifying here, so we're really pleased to have both cars on the front-row.

"It was another stunning lap by Max but I think the race could be a little closer tomorrow, but it is a great start to the weekend."

Adrian Newey - Christian Horner - Red Bull /