Sport : F1

Horner not writing off rivals

8th July 2012, 06:17pm

Bet with SkyBet  Formula 1 2012 Season. Click here to bet.

Christian Horner: Still has a cautious outlook

Christian Horner: Still has a cautious outlook

Red Bull boss Christian Horner insists it is far too early to write off the team's title rivals.

Mark Webber's win at Sunday's British Grand Prix, secured with a brave move on Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with four laps to go, was Red Bull's third of the season and moves the Australian within 13 points of the Spaniard in the race for the title.

Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel was third to give the team a first double podium of the year, following on from a dominant display in Valencia where only an engine failure denied the two-time world champion a certain victory.

With Red Bull having been the pacesetters on two very different circuits in Valencia and Silverstone, there is a concern that they have stolen a march on their rivals, with only Ferrari seemingly able to match them.

The Milton Keynes-based squad now hold a handsome 64-point lead at the top of the constructors' championship, but Horner said: "I think it is far too early to write off anybody in this championship.

"If you look the two most consistent finishers (Alonso and Webber) are leading the championship so finishing races is critical and you can't write off any of the major contenders.

"There is a lot of racing still to do at a lot of different circuits.

"We had a strong weekend which made up for what happened in Valencia but I think it is far too early to write off anybody."

While Red Bull enjoyed an excellent weekend, it proved a miserable experience for McLaren as their predictions of a strong showing were proved wildly inaccurate.

The MP4-27 struggled for speed, leaving Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button only able to manage eighth and 10th place finishes.

Hamilton now lies fourth in the championship, 37 points adrift of Alonso, with Button a massive 79 behind in eighth, while McLaren dropped to fourth in the constructors' standings behind Lotus.

But Horner remains wary of the Woking marque.

"It would be dangerous to write anybody off at this stage," he said.

"We are doing okay but there are a lot of drivers in contention.

"It has looked like a pattern has been emerging at the last few races but that could be thrown out of the window quite easily at the next race."

Vettel and Webber's relationship became strained as they battled for the title in 2010, but Horner does not envisage any similar issues this season, even though the pair are separated by just 16 points.

Horner said: "They have spent a lot of time racing each other and they have spent hundreds of hours together working on developing the car and I think they have a genuine respect for each other.

"Sebastian knows in Mark he has a very genuine competitor, and Mark knows Sebastian has been the benchmark for the last couple of years.

"It's a healthy situation for the team. I think they now have more experience."

Bet with SkyBet  Formula 1 2012 Season. Click here to bet.

F1 Videos

    Hamilton - We've got great pace

    Hamilton - We've got great pace

    23-May-2013

    Johnny Herbert talks to Lewis Hamilton about his Monaco practice performance.

    Monaco All-Star Football

    Monaco All-Star Football

    23-May-2013

    A host of sporting superstars got together for the annual all-star game ahead of the Monaco GP.

    Hamilton cautious of pole

    Hamilton cautious of pole

    23-May-2013

    Lewis Hamilton plays down his chances of pole after insisting their is still work to be done.

    Rosberg sets practice pace

    Rosberg sets practice pace

    23-May-2013

    Nico Rosberg was quickest after practice sessions one and two in Monaco.

    Sky Bet

      • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

    Facebook Favourites