McLaren dominated on Red Bull’s home turf at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, securing a one-two finish with Lando Norris ahead of Oscar Piastri after a long wheel-to-wheel battle between the two teammates. Their commanding performance left Red Bull team principal Christian Horner surprised and, as often happens, unfiltered in his reaction.
With Max Verstappen forced to retire after a first-lap incident and Yuki Tsunoda finishing last, Christian Horner focused attention on the extraordinary endurance of the McLarens, particularly the MCL39’s ability to manage its tyres even under extreme conditions.
Christian Horner bluntly praises McLaren
“I find it impressive. I can’t see any other team doing what McLaren is doing,” Christian Horner told the media. “Oscar was behind Lando for lap after lap, with a heavy fuel load at the start of the race. He was practically glued to Norris’s exhaust for half the GP and the tyres never gave up.”
One colorful quote sparked plenty of buzz in the paddock: “He’s practically making love to his f***ing exhaust for laps and laps and the tyres don’t die,” Christian Horner exclaimed. “That’s their advantage: they’ve built a car that protects the tyres brilliantly and has incredible balance.”
Christian Horner’s comments highlight how McLaren have not only reached peak performance but have also maintained a consistent margin over the rest of the grid. “You can see they’re fighting each other because they’ve got a massive gap. No other car can follow that closely without destroying the front or rear tyres.”
Finally, Christian Horner reflected on Red Bull’s mood after a disastrous weekend: “For us, the goal is to take it race by race. We’re not thinking about championships right now. We’re just focused on the next race.”
An indirect admission that 2025 could be an uphill battle for the team that once dominated the grid. And with Horner’s remarks, McLaren sends a clear message to the paddock: the MCL39 is fast, consistent, and ready to take control.
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