Horner: Minardi Deal No Distraction

As Autosport-Atlas revealed earlier this week, Red Bull chiefs have until Saturday night to decide whether to go ahead and buy into the Minardi team as a means of placing some of their young drivers there next season.

And although the involvement of a second Red Bull team in Formula One could lead to brand identity issues, Horner is adamant that nothing will detract from his outfit's efforts to move closer the front of the grid.

"Nothing would be done to dilute our objectives," he told Autosport-Atlas. "And those objectives here are very clear; that we want to move forward and we really want to compete at the front."

Speaking about what having a junior team would say about Red Bull's ambitions in Formula One, Horner said: "Red Bull have a habit of breaking the mould and I think they have made a positive impact in Formula One this year.

"What we have achieved has exceeded people's expectations on and off track. It has been a refreshing input as well.

"Formula One was becoming a little bit staid and we are very pleased with what we have been able to achieve but not satisfied. There are targets beyond what we have done this year."