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Horner Hits Back at Russell's Red Bull Sandbagging Claims
Red Bull's Christian Horner has a cheeky response to George Russell's suggestion that the team is hiding their true pace in the 2023 F1 season
Russell's Red Bull Revelation
Mercedes driver George Russell recently dropped a bombshell by suggesting that Red Bull is sandbagging with their RB19, holding back an alleged seven-tenths per lap advantage. Russell believes the reigning world champions have "no reason to be pushing" given the raw speed of their car.
Red Bull's Dominant Display
So far, Red Bull has been the team to beat in the 2023 F1 season, grabbing pole position and victory in all three Grands Prix – including one-two finish in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes have been left scrapping for the leftovers as Red Bull enjoys its spot at the top.
Horner's Humorous Rebuttal
When informed of Russell's comments, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner couldn't help but poke fun at the suggestion. He playfully reminded Russell of Mercedes' own run of seven consecutive drivers' titles and eight straight constructors' crowns between 2014 and 2021, saying, "His team of all people would know too well about those kind of advantages."
A Glimpse Into Red Bull's Race Strategy
Horner did admit that both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were managing their pace at times during the Australian Grand Prix. This was due to the one-stop strategy they were following before the Safety Car and red flag disruptions. However, he dismissed the idea that they were holding back a significant amount of pace.
Red Bull Racing – Unstoppable Force or Sandbagging Superteam?
While Red Bull holds a commanding 58-point lead over Aston Martin in the constructors' standings, and Verstappen leads the drivers' battle by 15 points over Perez, only time will tell if Russell's sandbagging claims hold any merit. For now, Horner's tongue-in-cheek response adds an entertaining twist to an already exciting F1 season.
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