Horner: 'It's easier to have a rival in the garage next to you'.

After seven years of Mercedes dominance, there is finally a serious battle for the championship between two teams. During the FIA press conference Christian Horner tells more about the competition.

When asked if the battle is as intense off the track as it is on the track, Horner replied the following: "It’s competitive throughout the team because that’s what it is – it is a competition. Every department is competing with their rival departments, not just within Mercedes but within every team. That’s the way we have always approached going racing. We are a competitive team, we are a hungry team, and we are enjoying the competition."

Mercedes and Red Bull dominance

Besides Mercedes, Red Bull also know what it is like to dominate Formula 1. Often, therefore, the competition takes place between the two drivers from the same team.

"I think it’s much more straightforward having a competitor in the garage next to you rather than two competitors within your own garage, because you have a natural conflict of interest within your team there, within your own engineering team etc, whereas having the competition as the garage next door is much more straightforward and I think it focuses everybody’s mind and motivations."

"I think it’s healthy for the team and healthy for the sport. It’s been a long time coming. We’ve obviously seen seven years of total dominance, and I think the biggest winner is Formula 1, to have two teams and two drivers every weekend slugging it out," the team boss finished.