Horner worried about Mercedes and McLaren: 'That will be a bonus for us'

Because we are working with a different format in Monza, every driver has a free choice of tyres for the Italian Grand Prix. Normally the top ten have to start on the tyre they qualified on in Q2, but because of the sprint race, every driver has a free choice. This also creates tension for Mercedes and Red Bull Racing and the tyres they will start on.

Christian Horner explains to Sky Sports his expectations. "It's all part of the mind games. A win here is never easy. Got to get the start first and get through the chicane and survive the first lap. We've gone for the best strategy which suits us. We can't control everyone else, when the covers come off we'll see and go from there."

Red Bull still with ambiguity now

"The McLaren's are quick off the line, it's about where you are at the end but to come out of the first chicane in the lead will be a bonus," acknowledges Red Bull's team principal. Yet he is wary of the speed of teams with Mercedes engines.

"They had good pace yesterday, it's always the second half of the race when everything starts to degrade, like in Hungary that Mercedes came alive. It might be static to start with, but it will come alive," Horner concludes.