14 May 2023 , 14:22
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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has warned championship contenders Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to remember that Formula 1 is not just an individual sport.
Verstappen has won three races so far, with Perez victorious in the other two as Red Bull dominated the early part of the season. It already appears to be a two-way fight between the team-mates to win the Drivers' Championship come the end of the year.
It is not the first time that Red Bull team-mates have been contending for the title, with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber famously clashing in the early 2010s. Horner was also in charge of the team during that period.
The Englishman is hoping to use that experience to handle Verstappen's title battle with Perez. But he has admitted that he is concerned that the duo have a habit of forgetting they also collect points for the Constructors' Championship.
"What's interesting this year is the dynamic between the two team-mates. Max has won three races, Sergio has won two races, there's 14 points difference between the two of them. It's going to be interesting to see that inter-team dynamic," he told the Financial Times.
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"It is about being transparent and talking things through, going through the expectations and reminding them they drive for a team. They represent every team member when they are driving their cars and all our partners. It is not just about them.
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Verstappen and Perez are dominating proceedings in the F1 world championship (Hasan Bratic/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)"In a briefing or meeting they take that on but as soon as they put a crash helmet on, I think it goes straight out the other ear. You can see the respect they have in the way they race each other. They drive hard but fair and give each other space which is what we ask."
Horner conceded that the Constructors' Championship is the title he most wants to win, having claimed that crown last year. They are currently 122 points clear of closest challengers Aston Martin and Horner has urged both drivers to help retain the title.
"Formula One, you've got two championships. The Constructor's Championship is where the money is distributed. We get not $1 for winning the driver's championship," the Red Bull boss added.
"Every bonus that is payable in the team is not related to the drivers' championship. From a team point of view, we want to give them both equality and go at pains to do that.
"From weekend-to-weekend, who drives out of the garage first and who speaks in the team briefs alternates. That's something we've become accustomed to over the years working with competitive drivers."
Verstappen beat Perez in the last race in Miami last Sunday, with the Dutchman eyeing back-to-back wins when the F1 circus arrives in Italy for the Emilia Romanga Grand Prix next weekend.