Red Bull boss Christian Horner claims that it is unlikely Max Verstappen would manage to defeat Lewis Hamilton with such a pace deficit.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are again set to vie for the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. But this time, it will be the final showdown, the end of the wire. Everything will be settled here.
Currently, the momentum lies with Hamilton after his recent successive three wins. The Red Bull boss also points out that the power deficit Verstappen will face in Abu Dhabi is staggering.
“They’ve changed the layout and unfortunately the engine speed that Hamilton has, it’s… he was a second quicker [in the race at Jeddah], a second quicker in Sectors 2 and 3. Max would pull out half a second by Turn 13,” he said on the F1 Nation podcast.
“You know, you can’t defend against that. It’s the most frustrating thing for a driver to be sitting with that kind of deficit. That’s what I think has been really frustrating,” he added.
“The last three or four races we have just been watching that dominant straight-line performance, which you can’t do anything about.”
Christian Horner: Battle is not over
Despite believing in Mercedes’ superiority, Horner believes that the battle is far from over, and Verstappen is still in contention to win the world title.
“Max is a fighter and if there’s a driver that deserves to win this World Championship, it’s Max Verstappen, because Mercedes have had the better car,” added Horner.
“He has driven outstandingly. Look how close Valtteri [Bottas] has been to Lewis this year. Max has been head and shoulders, for me, the driver of the year.
“He would be very deserving, you know, to win this championship. The way he’s driven this year, the way he’s conducted himself, I think has been outstanding.”
