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Fuel & engine oil ‘crucial’ to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing victories
Q&A with…CHRISTIAN HORNER
Team Principal, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing
Formula One is a competive environment where even the smallest detail can be the difference between reaching the top step of the podium and missing out on points. It means strong partnerships are important to success, with ExxonMobil playing a key role in Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s recent form, which includes seven Grands Prix victories in two seasons, as Team Principal Christian Horner explains…
ExxonMobil and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing joined forces ahead of the 2017 Formula One season. How important is a Formula One team’s fuel and lubricants supplier to their success?
They have been extremely important. Ever since we entered into this partnership with ExxonMobil, the level of technical expertise has been clear to see. That’s been particularly evident since changing engine supplier to Honda for this season. Fuel & lubricant development plays such a key role with these hybrid engines and we are seeing great progress being made as the two companies work collaboratively.
2018 was the most successful season so far for the team in the V6 turbo era, achieving four race wins. What impact has ExxonMobil made on Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s form?
Esso Synergy race fuel and Mobil 1 motor oil have been crucial to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s success. We wouldn’t have won any of those races without the right fuel and engine oil in the car. They are enormously important to us. We have had seven victories in our relationship so far and we are keen to add to that in the near future.
How different is it working with Honda compared to Renault, who you worked with for many years?
The great thing about working with Honda is that they are fully focused on Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso whereas previously, Renault had their own works team – and fuel supplier – and we had to wait in the queue to be able to run that power unit. Only we were able to run the last spec of engine in 2018, which the works team did not, because it worked with ExxonMobil products. It’s a totally different relationship. Honda are pushing ExxonMobil hard and ExxonMobil are coming up with a lot of product variants at the moment. It’s great to see that relationship working as fluidly as it is. We are very much involved in discussions about Honda’s development path and what role fuel and engine oil plays within that. It’s a triangular partnership between Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, Honda and ExxonMobil where everyone is bringing something to the party. It’s very exciting.
Max Verstappen’s form at the back end of last season and into this year has been sensational. What have you made of his recent level of maturity and development?
Max selected another gear since last year’s Canadian Grand Prix. The way he drove from that point onwards has been hugely impressive. He had a run that came to end in Bahrain of six straight podiums. He also scored the second highest amount of points behind Lewis Hamilton in the second half of last season and he’s carried that form through the winter to the start of this year. We want to give him the tools that he can take the fight to the Ferraris and Mercedes.
Pierre Gasly earned promotion to Aston Martin Red Bull Racing but has had a tough start to the year, would you agree?
Pierre just needs some time. It’s a big step, joining Aston Martin Red Bull Racing from Scuderia Toro Rosso. Australia was challenging but he drove a good race in Bahrain and then had another solid race in China. Clinching the fastest lap, and the bonus point that came with it, was a real positive for him. Whilst Pierre was unable to finish the race in Baku, setting fastest lap in Q1 and racing from the pit lane to sixth on Sunday, before retiring due to a mechanical issue, was his strongest race weekend to date and he will take confidence from it moving forwards.
Do you get a chance to race much now, having competed in Formula Renault, British F3 and Formula 2 before turning to management and is it still something you enjoy?
I don’t get time anymore. Occasionally, I accept an invitation from Lord March to drive at the Goodwood Revival. Then I wonder after I’ve done it why on earth I agreed to it! I don’t have the urge or burning desire to get behind the wheel of a competitive racing car anymore. But those events are always great fun and the races are still very competitive.
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