Horner Claps Back at Mercedes: Red Bull’s “Downgrade” Still Dominates Amid F1 Rivalry

Christian Horner responds to Mercedes following James Allison's "downgrade" comment

Christian Horner has retaliated against Mercedes and James Allison after the remarks made post-Canadian Grand Prix.

Christian Horner has responded to Mercedes following comments from F1's technical director, James Allison, who referred to Red Bull's latest upgrade as a “downgrade” before the Canadian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen secured his third straight victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve amidst a tumultuous race affected by rain.

The driver from the Netherlands might not have had the quickest vehicle, but by committing fewer errors than his competitors, he secured his 60th Formula 1 victory.

This indicated that Red Bull found it challenging to match their earlier season's dominant performance once more.

Consequently, Allison posited that their most recent advancements led to Red Bull's decline in the hierarchy.

In Canada, Allison remarked, "It appears that their supposed improvement turned out to be a setback," Allison elaborated. "Hopefully, this will significantly disrupt their plans.

"Difficulty arises when you begin to doubt your tools, forcing you to retrace your steps and waste a significant amount of time. Time is your most valuable ally, and losing it is your greatest adversary."

As expected, Horner responded with a sharp retort to Mercedes and Allison.

"Despite our reduction in capabilities, we still outperformed their enhanced version,” Horner remarked. “Securing victory in this race was truly gratifying.”

Red Bull has secured victories in six out of the first nine races of this season, with Verstappen holding a significant advantage in the championship standings.

Horner anticipates that competitors of Red Bull will persist as a challenge throughout the remaining year.

"Horner noted, 'The recent races have been quite turbulent for us, yet we've succeeded in securing victories in two of the past three events.'"

In Imola, we secured a first-place start, and here we've equaled that top qualifying time with a car that's clearly showing its flaws, according to both drivers. Therefore, we're concentrating heavily on identifying and rectifying these issues.

"It's understood that tracks later in the season, such as Singapore, might present challenges where ride problems could play a role. However, we anticipate that teams like Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes, who showed competitiveness this past weekend, will be strong contenders across all circuits."

"Therefore, I believe that even though we've secured victories in six out of the nine races, we must remain at our peak performance to continue widening the lead."

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