Horner tells Ferrari: Talk is cheap

Christian Horner

Talk is cheap and any Formula One team is only as good as its last race, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said on Friday in a put-down to Ferrari’s declared plans for a new era of domination.

Speaking ahead of the Italian team’s home grand prix at Monza, Horner recognized that reigning champions Red Bull lacked the illustrious pedigree and 60-year history of the sport’s glamour team.

But he also made clear that Red Bull already had what Ferrari, for all their past achievements, were striving to create.

“It’s been a great run for us," he said of a season that has so far seen Red Bull start every race on pole position and win seven out of 12.

“We don’t have the history of Ferrari, we’ve only been around six and a half years or so, so ultimately it comes down to what you do on the circuit and you are only as good as your last race in many respects," he told reporters over breakfast in the team motorhome.

“It would be arrogant for us to say that we expect to dominate in future years. We don’t take anything for granted."

Ferrari have won just one race this season, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July. They last won the drivers’ championship with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

Red Bull took both titles last year and Germany’s Sebastian Vettel has his second successive crown all but wrapped up.

“We’ve won 22 grands prix, we’ve had 32 poles, we’ve won two world championships," said Horner. “So I think that we have earned respect in the pitlane.

“We don’t disrespect or underestimate the achievements of our peers but we are very much focused on what happens on the circuit." Reuters