Horner predicts strong Mercedes: "A few years ago they also had problems"

The winter tests looked promising for Red Bull Racing this year. After years of poor season starts, the first signs from the RB16B seem to indicate that Max Verstappen's team may be able to take on arch-rival Mercedes from the start this year.

Caution

Despite the good showing during the winter tests, however, team boss Christian Horner is far from thinking Red Bull is the faster team. Speaking to Racer.com Horner said: "There's no denying the feeling that after seven years of Mercedes dominance we can finally put an end to their dominance. However, honesty forces me to say that we have to be very careful about thinking this. We simply cannot underestimate the challenge that is beating Mercedes."

Untouchable

Horner therefore is wary of the scenario that Mercedes will simply be up front again this weekend as usual: "They didn't become world champions seven years in a row by accident. The team is pure class and they will be keen to come back stronger. We saw that a few years back, for example, when they had problems during the winter tests and then proved untouchable in Melbourne."

According to the British team boss, Red Bull Racing is therefore not the favourite. "Of course they are trying to push the spotlight away from themselves now. That's how the game works. But the fact remains that they have been unbeaten world champions for seven years, they had the strongest car in the field last year and we are driving almost the same cars this year."