Q&A with Christian Horner

It’s been a period of huge success over the past four seasons but now the reset button has been pressed. Does it make you nervous losing the continuity of the recent past?

The re set button has essentially been pressed for 2014 with a big regulation change so it’s a clean sheet of paper. It’s an opportunity for the design team to get their teeth into a new challenge but the biggest challenge is in the power unit and that’s where we rely heavily on our engine partner Renault to make sure that we have a power unit that is competitive with our rivals. We have every confidence they will have.

Are you confident that all the elements are in place for the start of the season?

It’s dangerous to ever be over confident that you have all the elements in place for the start of a season. We’ve enjoyed continuity over the last few years and we’ve got a strong driver line up and a strong technical line up as well as great strength and depth in the team, but you can’t take anything for granted as Formula One like any sport can be unpredictable at times.

In Seb you obviously have a driver operating at the top of his game but on the other side of the garage you’ve got a new boy in Daniel. What are you expectations of him this year?

As the new boy in the team Daniel is going to be on steep learning curve and he’s going to be rated against Sebastian, who as the reigning World champion is the benchmark in Formula One. That’s going to be tough, but he’s approaching it with just the right attitude; he’s looking to learn and benefit from how Sebastian operates and fundamentally he’s very fast. He’s a very quick racing driver and I think Daniel could throw up some surprise results this year. I think he has the real potential to be a star of the future.

What do you think will be the key to success this season? Engine, reliability, rapidity of response time on development?

This year the engine and the reliability of the power unit is going to be critical. Whoever has the post powerful and reliable power unit will probably come out on top, so it’s a game changer in many respects with the regulation change this year, but we look forward to the new challenge.

How is the atmosphere in the team?

The atmosphere in the team is excellent at the moment. We’ve been riding over the crest of a wave the last four years and there’s a great determination to see that continue in 2014. It’s been the most intense winter we’ve ever had; we’ve produced the car in the shortest possible amount of time through the design and manufacturing process and it’s fantastic to see the team worked operating the way it has.

What will be your main focus this year as Team Principal of Infiniti Red Bull Racing?

The main focus is to approach each event and get the best out of each event. It’s a long season and a long calendar and it’s important to optimize our chances at each and every race. It’s how we’ve conducted ourselves previously and it won’t be any different this year.

This is the team’s 10th season – what’s been your best moment from the past nine seasons?

It’s the team’s tenth season but there are so many highlights from the previous nine. Winning our first World Championship in Abu Dhabi, our first win in China with a One Two finish in 2009, all of the Constructors’ Championships and Drivers’ Championships and some of the fantastic race wins we’ve achieved along the way – there are too many to mention.

Will the new regulations affect the racing this season?

The new regulations will have an effect on the racing this season; it will be a different type of racing. We’re limited to 100 kilos of fuel for each race, so there will be a more tactical approach which will be a challenge for the teams and drivers.