Red Bull claims Ferrari's performance is the 'one consistent thing'

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner feels the only thing that is consistent thus far in 2022 is Ferrari's on-track performance.

During an interview with F1 TV, Horner mentioned that it is impossible to predict the order of the cars going into the season opener in Bahrain. The Briton said:

“I think the one consistent thing you see is every time the Ferrari is on track, it looks competitive. The McLaren, when it’s running, [also] looks competitive. Mercedes, I think, haven’t shown their hand yet, and the car looks a bit of a handful to drive. But then there’s surprises, like the Williams pace on the long run looks quite competitive, so the form book is impossible to predict.”

Horner also reiterated that testing form is not necessarily a guarantee of success on race day. He went on to add, saying:

“We were pretty happy [in testing] last year, and then Mercedes came back at the first race and won it and were very competitive, so it just goes to show that testing is testing. There’s no points for the six days of testing, they start in a week’s time [at the Bahrain Grand Prix] and I think, especially with these new regulations, it’s very, very difficult to predict.”

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Max Verstappen signs massive long-term with Red Bull

Max Verstappen has put pen to paper on a massive contract that could see him stay with Red Bull through until 2028. According to a report in De Telegraaf in the Netherlands, the 24-year-old could outearn Lewis Hamilton as a result of the aforementioned deal.

After the confirmation, the defending world champion said:

“I really enjoy being part of Red Bull Racing, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision. I love this team and last year was simply incredible. Our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it’s about keeping the number one on the car long-term.”

Christian Horner, who brought the Dutchman to the team at the age of 16, saw the move as a statement of intent. He said:

“To have Max signed with Red Bull through to the end of ‘28 is a real statement of intent. Our immediate focus is on retaining Max’s world championship title, but this deal also shows he is part of the team’s long-term planning. With the Red Bull Powertrains division working towards the new engine regulations for 2026 we wanted to make sure we had the best driver on the grid secured for that car.”

Verstappen will be defending his crown in 2022 whilst driving the #1 car, as is the right reserved by a reigning world champion in F1.