Horner grins: 'That tyre cost Mercedes two possible wins'

Red Bull Racing and Mercedes both chose different strategies at the Mexican Grand Prix. In the end, the stint on mediums worked out better for Max Verstappen, allowing the Dutchman to cross the finish line first with a big gap towards Lewis Hamilton. Christian Horner was surprised by Mercedes' conservative choice.

Mercedes' strategy was never an option for Red Bull. The team of Hamilton and George Russell went for an alternative strategy with a start on mediums, before changing to hard tyres. Red Bull and Ferrari chose a strategy from softs to mediums. In the end, that proved to be the right choice.

"We were surprised that they [Mercedes] chose such a conservative approach. Dietrich Mateschitz taught us to take risks. This strategy was definitely aggressive," Horner explains to Auto, Motor und Sport. "A key was that Max masterfully controlled the softs in the first stint. He just knows what the tyre needs. When he came into the pits, there was still a lot of life in it."

Horner: "That tyre cost Mercedes two possible victories"

At the US Grand Prix, Hamilton also finished the race on hard tyres. The Britonhad no chance against Verstappen on mediums in the closing stages of the race. The exact same thing happened in Mexico. "That tyre cost Mercedes two possible wins," Horner grins at the German medium.

Sergio Perez failed to overtake Hamilton on mediums. After the race, the Mexican revealed that it was difficult to follow other cars on the track, so an overtake did not happen. According to Horner, Perez could have made P2 if the Mexican's pit stop had not failed. "I think with the same strategy we would still have won, but they would definitely have been closer," the Red Bull team boss adds.