Red Bull ready to challenge for title: "Better prepared than in last five years"

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner thinks his team is better prepared for the start of the 2020 season than they have been in years past, saying Honda's engine is "very, very close" to Mercedes'.

Red Bull finished 2019 in third place of the constructors' championship again, despite star driver Max Verstappen having the best year of his F1 career with three wins and two pole positions.

As the season progressed, however, the Honda power unit made some noticeable gains and because of it, the Bulls were able to challenge at the top of the grid much more frequently.

“Honda did such a great job, each introduction of an engine last year brought more performance and more power and it feels we’re getting very, very close now to Mercedes,” Horner told Rueters among others at a Red Bull event of Monday.

“That, therefore, puts the emphasis on the chassis side of the team... going into this year we feel better prepared, earlier, than we have certainly in the last five years.”

With more stability and certainty in the driver situation, Red Bull should be able to kick on in 2020. Whether the Milton Keynes-based side are equipped well enough to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari for the title from the Australian Grand Prix onwards, however, remains to be seen. Can they shake off their reputation of starting seasons slowly?