“There are no silver bullets” – Christian Horner has questioned Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff’s intention of labelling Red Bull as the favourites for the 2021 season.
The 2020 season witnessed a dismal title race, with Mercedes racing away to the title, and Red Bull ‘comfortably’ finishing second. This season, though, the tide seems to have turned, with Red Bull piling on the pressure on the reigning champions.
This has led Mercedes to label Red Bull as the favourites for the season, clearly to let go of some of the pressure. This hasn’t impressed Horner one bit, suggesting even a rocket scientist will label the seven-time champions Mercedes as the favourites instead. Lewis Hamilton currently leads Max Verstappen by a solitary point, with Portimao next.
“Of course, it’s used to try to put expectation and to try to create pressure. Of course, Toto will inevitably try to identify Red Bull as the favourite in order to create a perception of having to chase and catch up.
“But I just don’t believe we are the favourites, to be honest with you. We’re up against a seven times consecutive world champion. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out the odds: they will tell you who the favourite is.
“Mercedes has been tagging us as the favourite, and Toto is obviously extremely keen to deflect attention – but it’s somewhat short-sighted. When you look, they are seven-time reigning world champions, they had one bad test. Their car was every bit quick as ours in the race in Bahrain, and their tyre degradations look very good.”
