Horner: Quick car would draw more ire

Ahead of the first official test of the season in Valencia on Tuesday, where Red Bull will unveil its RB7, team principal Christian Horner is upbeat about its readiness for defending its crown.

But on the back of a series of accusations from rival teams throughout 2010 - including suggestions of ride height control, flexible front wings and over-spending - Horner does not expect his opposition to quieten their complaints.

"It is inevitable while we are quick, and that is unfortunately a trait of being successful," he said in an exclusive interview with AUTOSPORT. "So you have to put up with it. We tend to take little notice of it. We will focus on ourselves.

"Red Bull is the most exciting team in F1 at this point of time. With what we managed to achieve, with the drivers that we have, and how we go about our business, it is different to others. And it is that spirit that has enabled us to achieve what we have so far.

"There is a big difference between thinking you can win and knowing you can win - it is like a driver winning a grand prix for the first time. Red Bull Racing goes into 2011 having achieved that benchmark."

Horner thinks that rivals pointing fingers at his team is simply the result of them being uneasy at what his outfit has achieved so quickly in F1.

"I think people are just uncomfortable that Red Bull Racing, in such a short space of time, has managed to achieve what it has," he said. "But that is what happens when you run at the front."

As well as seeing progress in the maturity of his team, he also reckons that world champion Sebastian Vettel will be much stronger this year.

"Having a championship on a CV means that you will see him continue to grow as his experience does," he said. "I think he will continue to develop. He has a very strong work ethic.

"He works and takes his preparation to the sport very seriously, and I think we are still to see the best of Sebastian Vettel."

*For the full interview with Christian Horner, where he reflects on the 2010 season, the challenges he and his team faced, plus looks forward to 2011, click here.