Christian Horner has given his take on one of Formula 1’s great rivalries ahead of its potential resumption in 2025.
The Red Bull CEO and team principal joined talkSPORT to discuss his driver Max Verstappen, and his incredible battles with Lewis Hamilton which peaked in 2021.
The pair battled wheel-to-wheel throughout the closest title fight in F1’s history – one that ended on the final lap in the final race of the season.
Since new aerodynamic regulations came into effect in 2022, the pair have been separated on track with Verstappen flying to three more world titles while Hamilton was stuck scrapping for podiums.
However, the British seven-time world champion will be moving to Ferrari next season, something Horner believes could benefit him.
“He may well have another resurgence in him,” Horner told talkSPORT. “He’s an emotional guy and it really depends on how things kick off for him at Ferrari.
“It’s a huge brand and huge following. If the Tifosi (fans) get behind him and he gets off to a good start then those qualities are still there, he’s still a class competitor and even if he’s getting older in age, it depends if that hunger is going to be rejuvenated in a new surrounding in Ferrari.
“It’s a great story for Formula One and it could be just the revitalisation Lewis has been looking for.
“He’s looked very flat the last three years and perhaps that relationship became a little stale.”
Ferrari ended 2024 second in the constructors’ championship, ahead of Red Bull and well clear of the team Hamilton’s departing – Mercedes.
They also saw Charles Leclerc finish third in the drivers’ championship and Carlos Sainz fifth, while their tactical nous and financial superiority has many picking them as title favourites for 2025.
That would pair up Verstappen and Hamilton once more at the front of the grid where their so far cordial relationship could again be tested.
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Explaining how they’ve behaved together so far, Horner said: “They’re two very different people, they have different personalities and characters.
“I think there’s a respect and that’s a very important thing, but are they the type of people who would spend Christmas together? Probably not.
“Max has other friendships in Formula 1, Lando Norris is a good pal of his, they’ve travelled to many races together, but inevitably that gets put under pressure when you’re competing, is Tyson Fury gonna be mates with Oleksandr Usyk? Maybe after but certainly not in the build up.”
Despite coming together on an unprecedented number of occasions for title contenders during 2021, Verstappen and Hamilton were perhaps better behaved in the media than their team bosses.
Horner regularly went head-to-head with his opposite number at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, and their sparring has continued in the three years that followed.
Asked about that relationship, Horner again emphasised how important it is that the pair respect each other, but singled out one thing that separates them.
“We’re very different people,” he said. “I’m an ex-racer turned manager and CEO, Toto came from the financial sector so he perhaps has a different outlook to me.
“I think the most important thing at the end of the day is respect, there has to be respect and Toto has done a great job at Mercedes in the time he’s been there.
“But again, it has to be competitive and he will have a go at me every now and again and you have to give as good as you get, but that’s sport, if it’s all just flowers and pleasantries it’s disingenuous to the competition that exists there.
“We’re a race team and we’re competitive, we don’t like losing and we want to win. I wouldn’t say we’re bad losers but we certainly don’t like it, if you like losing you’re in the wrong game.”
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Horner may instead be facing a challenge from Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur in 2025, with the Frenchman building the Italian squad back into championship contenders.
When asked about his newest rival on track, he again pointed out a key difference between himself and Wolff.
“Fred is more of a racer. He’s come from a similar background to that of myself,” Horner explained.
“He’s more of a no nonsense kind of character. You perhaps get a little less hot air out of Fred…”
Are you reading Mr. Wolff?
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