Horner reckons Ferrari ‘could be the car to beat’

If Red Bull want to be on pole in Bahrain, their team boss Christian Horner believes Ferrari may be the team to beat.

Based on their testing performance in Bahrain, Red Bull went into the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix carrying the favourites’ tag.

And the opening day of practice only further strengthened that, with Max Verstappen topping FP2 just under a tenth clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

“It’s been a positive day for us really,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.

“Both in the warmer conditions earlier in the day [and] that last session, the short run and the long run both looked pretty decent.

“But fuel loads and engine modes, there are so many caveats but we are pretty satisfied with today’s running.”

When the engines are turned up though and the fuel comes out for qualifying, will Red Bull retain that slim advantage?

If Red Bull are to stay on top and claim the first pole of 2022, Horner suspects Ferrari could be their main roadblock.

“I think Ferrari are very quick. You can see Leclerc today was quick, Carlos Sainz was quick, whenever they have been on track during pre-season they have looked very impressive,” Horner explained.

“So they could be the car to beat tomorrow.”

Asked if it would be nice to have another competitor join the battle at the front in 2022, following the intense scrap with Mercedes in 2021, Horner replied: “We don’t really mind who the competitors are.

“Each of the teams are competitors, but it’s great to see Ferrari back and competitive. They have been a giant that’s been quiet the last couple of years and they were always going to get it together.

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