Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, recently revealed that Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed concerns over Max Verstappen’s dominance, particularly during the 2023 season. According to Horner, Domenicali was increasingly frustrated, fearing that Red Bull’s overwhelming success was causing a decline in F1 viewership. Fans were tuning out, and races had become too predictable with Verstappen consistently winning by large margins.
Domenicali’s warnings included direct pleas to Horner, urging Red Bull to reduce the gap to other teams and make the races more competitive. At one point, he reportedly told Horner, “You can’t keep winning by 20 seconds,” underscoring the CEO’s fears that the lack of competition was hurting the sport’s entertainment value.
While Red Bull initially continued to dominate in 2024, other teams like McLaren, led by Lando Norris, have started to close the gap. McLaren’s unexpected win at the Miami Grand Prix marked a turning point, as Red Bull faced newfound struggles despite using setups that had previously worked in their favor. This shift in competition has reignited fan interest and created a more unpredictable season as Red Bull fights to maintain its dominance in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, recently revealed that Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed concerns over Max Verstappen’s dominance, particularly during the 2023 season. According to Horner, Domenicali was increasingly frustrated, fearing that Red Bull’s overwhelming success was causing a decline in F1 viewership. Fans were tuning out, and races had become too predictable with Verstappen consistently winning by large margins.
Domenicali’s warnings included direct pleas to Horner, urging Red Bull to reduce the gap to other teams and make the races more competitive. At one point, he reportedly told Horner, “You can’t keep winning by 20 seconds,” underscoring the CEO’s fears that the lack of competition was hurting the sport’s entertainment value.
While Red Bull initially continued to dominate in 2024, other teams like McLaren, led by Lando Norris, have started to close the gap. McLaren’s unexpected win at the Miami Grand Prix marked a turning point, as Red Bull faced newfound struggles despite using setups that had previously worked in their favor. This shift in competition has reignited fan interest and created a more unpredictable season as Red Bull fights to maintain its dominance in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships
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