Horner warns: 'Ferrari and Mercedes head to Europe with big updates'

Christian Horner disagrees with Frederic Vasseur that the budget cap penalty for Red Bull Racing would be too light. Horner warns of the competitors' updates and thinks it is too early to draw conclusions after three races.

Red Bull has made an excellent start to the 2023 F1 season with three wins. Especially impressive was the way Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez won the Grands Prix. As a result, many people believe that the title has already been conceded, which raises questions. How could Red Bull build such a strong car when it had ten per cent less time in the wind tunnel because of the budget cap penalty?

Penalty for Red Bull too light?

Vasseur previously revealed that he believes this shows that the penalty for Red Bull was too light. ''I am still convinced the penalty was very light. I don't want to say they didn't do a good job because, honestly, they did a very good job on the car. I am not trying to find an excuse at all, but if you ask me if the penalty is too light, I say yes,'' the Frenchman said.

Horner leaves at Sky Sports that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but that he disagrees with Ferrari's team boss. ''The team have done a great job over the winter on limited wind-tunnel time that we've had to develop this car, and of course that will have an impact later into the year and on next year.''

According to the Red Bull Racing team boss, it is also far too early to pass judgement after only three races. ''I think it's still hugely premature in (terms of) this season, there's an awful lot of racing still to go. We're hearing of big updates coming for both Ferrari and Mercedes when we get back to Europe,'' the Brit concludes.