Red Bull Chief Addresses Driver Fight As Team Tries To Avoid Repeat Of 2018

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has answered questions raised by many fans over the fight between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, confirming the pair are "free to race".

The Austrian team has dominated the 2023 season so far winning all four races and having a 1-2 finish for three out of four. With that, there are now only six points separating the two drivers bringing Perez into a competitive position to fight for his own championship rather than aid Verstappen with his.

Horner's confirmation that both drivers are free to race raises alarm bells with some as it takes them back to the 2018 season where the in-team rivalry between Verstappen and now third-driver Daniel Ricciardo came to a head. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend reminded fans of the 2018 event in Baku which left the Dutch and Australian driver crashing into each other, eliminating them both from the race.

During an interview with the media, as quoted by Autosport.com, Horner explained:

“At moment it's the two of them [in the fight for the title]. There's a slight gap between the rest of the field, but there's 19 more races to go, and five sprint races.

“There's a huge amount of racing and a whole variance of different circuits to go through, so it could ebb and flow between the two of them.

“Reliability will be a key factor. And what we're more focused on as well at the moment is building a buffer with both of the drivers.

“Because when we get back to Europe, I'm sure there's going to be sizeable upgrades. And, of course, we have a reduced capacity to develop this year, so that's where our focus is - trying to build a gap.”

Further clarifying the position within the team, Horner added:

“There's six points between them after four races so yeah, they're both competitive drivers.

“They both want to win, which is why they're employed by the team. And I think that it's down to what they do on the track. They were free to race today and, all year so far, they've been free.

"Until the team's interests, if you're competing against a competitor, becomes bigger than the drivers' interests. But, as it is at the moment, they're free to race.”

Speaking ahead of the race, Horner himself mentioned the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and that it had been spoken about within the team to avoid a similar situation. He said to Sky Sports F1:

“I think 2018 is fairly etched on everybody's memory in this team. And it's something we discussed this morning in the briefing, that they're free to race, but we don't want a 2018 replay.

“And they pushed each other as hard as they could, and it was a fine margin today that split the two of them.”