© Vladimir RysChristian's Column: Monaco MattersFollowing on from Max's Monaco masterclass we hear from Christian Horner ahead of the Azerbaijan GP.
In this week’s column Christian talks about how the desire to win remains the same as when Red Bull clinched their last double title back in 2013 and why the incredibly close fight between two heavyweights is drawing plenty of excitement.
Celebrating The Monaco Win© Vladimir Rys
So far this championship is box office. I even received a text from Tyson Fury after Max’s win in Monaco. The two-time world heavyweight champion is a fan of Max and there has been a lot of excitement from other sports around the competitive championship fight we are in. Tyson is an incredibly passionate and focussed guy and I think he respects the fact that Max drives in a similar way.
Monaco really was a great weekend in terms of performance and points for us. To come away as leaders of both the Constructors' and the Drivers' Championship was beyond all our expectations going into the weekend.
It was a masterclass from Max and great to be back racing in Monte Carlo.
It was a masterclass from Max and while it was more of a muted Monaco without our floating Energy Station, it was great to see some fans back to the grandstands, plus it was great to be back racing in Monte Carlo. It is an iconic race. It always gets a hard time for a lack of overtaking opportunities but that is what makes Saturday's qualifying even more crucial and strategy does play a role.
It was also fantastic for Honda to win in Monaco for the first time since 1992, back when Ayrton Senna beat our Nige! It is an important moment for them too, but we won’t be getting carried away as all that matters is where we are at the end of the year.
Celebrating With Car Crew 33© Getty Images
Checo did a great job on Sunday and his race pace has been fantastic this year, but it shows that if he has a clean Saturday and qualifies in a good position, he will be right up there in the fight for podiums and wins.
It’s just down to spending time in the car and growing in confidence. It’s a case of working it out over a single lap and that will come.
Sergio will play a key role in this championship and it is important that we have him driving as he did on Sunday. Even when he drove for me in Formula 2, he always delivered in the race and had great awareness of the tyres and never shied-away from an overtake. We know he can qualify well, look at his performance last year at Imola in the wet.
Sergio will play a key role in this championship and it is important that we have him driving as he did on Sunday; taking points away from Lewis and profiting from Valtteri’s bad luck.
I don't think it will be long before he is standing on the top of the podium either.
Checo On The Charge© Getty Images
There were some suggestions in the press that the Team had lost some of its championship sharpness but the results in Monaco show how quickly things can change as well as the narrative.
We expected the last two races to be Mercedes' strongholds and I think the most exciting thing is that, bar Portimao, we have led at all the races.
We have been right there and fortune and bad luck always equals itself out over the course of a season, that's just the nature of sport and you have to take the rough with the smooth.
The fundamental asset we have here is the Team essence. We have had two victories and three second-places out of the first five races, which is a phenomenal start and something everyone in the Team should be proud of.
The business we operate in is a media business and headlines are there to keep the sport as entertaining as possible but they are not always 100% accurate.
The fundamental asset we have here is the Team essence. The core of our Team has been largely unchanged from the championship years and we have cultivated a huge amount of young talent which is now integrated into the Team.
All that matters is that we have confidence in each other. There has always been a strong sense of belief within this Team and we are all true racers at heart.
What A Team!© Getty Images
The way the whole Team has embraced this year with the pandemic, Brexit and the changing calendar has been extremely impressive.
The strength and depth plus the spirit we have has all shone through brighter than ever in the past 12 months.
The work Alex has been putting in on the sim, all helped to turn it around for Saturday. We were not in great shape on Thursday in Monaco and Max was not particularly happy with the car but the work behind the scenes, the work Alex has been putting in on the sim, all helped to turn it around for Saturday.
We made some good set-up changes, got Max and Checo a lot happier with the car and Max was obviously gutted to miss out on pole with the red flag. We all went into Saturday evening a little frustrated because we all knew how difficult it would be to overtake, but Ferrari's misfortune turned into our good fortune and it was important for us to convert the opportunity.
We are only five races in, there is still a huge amount of distance to cover this season but a win in Monaco puts a spring in everyone's step.
Flags Flying In Baku© Vladimir Rys
Next up we have the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, which is another street track but it is very different to Monaco.
Mercedes have been mighty there but we did win with Daniel in 2017. It is an unforgiving street circuit and anything can happen. Overtaking is possible, unlike at Monte Carlo, and the characteristics of the circuit are very interesting.
You have the slow bits past the fortress walls and then you have that massive straight with a couple of kinks in it. It is going to be fascinating to see how all the teams fare at this type of circuit.
Of course it will also be interesting to see too if Ferrari's form carries through because that will be great for the championship. Seeing six cars in contention and fighting for wins is better than having just two.
The Narrow Castle Section© Getty Images
This subject came up in a recent podcast and of course Baku has a lucky toilet! Every track has one! It is the 2017 toilet that has been nominated, although it was not very lucky in 2018!
I am a little superstitious. I have a couple of little things I like to do before a race.
I always approach the driver from the right hand side and always make sure I shake their hand and look them in the eyes before the race, so I suppose that is a little ritual.
There have been few superstitious drivers at the Team over the years. I think Checo has a few things he does. But it is more of a way of getting yourself in the zone. Some drivers put their crash helmet on before they get in the car or get in from a certain side or do one boot up before the other, but there has been nothing too extreme that I can remember.
Christian Horner In Monaco© Vladimir Rys
