Horner: "They love to hype up how others are the favourites"

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing were the fastest after Friday at Spa-Francorchamps, reason for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to mark them as favourites for this weekend. However, Christian Horner doesn't want to take that role on Saturday morning.

“If you look at Lewis’ lap he screwed up the chicane, so he dropped about three tenths there and they should’ve been quickest. They love to hype up how others are the favourites, but we know they’re going to be tough when they turn their engine modes up.” said Horner against Sky Sports F1.

Red Bull Racing is looking towards qualifying, so it's mainly in the mirrors, as there are more teams going very well at Spa this weekend. “I tell you what, we should have the legs on them in the race, but Racing Point are going to be tough to beat in qualifying as well."

Ban on party mode should help Red Bull Racing from Monza

The change in the rules that prevent teams from using the so-called 'party mode' doesn't seem to come early enough for Red Bull Racing. Horner is reluctant to predict how much it will help, but he does think he will benefit from it.

“I think it will help. For different engines, it might well be a three of four-tenths difference. It will be interesting to see what effects it has when we go there [to Monza] next weekend.”