Q & A with Christian Horner
Red Bull Racing needs the strongest possible result from Brazil to keep Sebastian Vettel's championship hopes in realistic perspective. And as team principal Christian Horner told AUTOSPORT exclusively, his outift is determined to exactly that.
Christian Horner: We are happy with the way the day has gone. Both of our guys got through their programmes and we got some very good data - and both seem pretty happy with their cars. It is impossible to know what fuel loads the others are running on, but we were pleased with the day's work.
Q. You come here with a simple attitude - it's win or bust for the championship. Does that make life simple for you?
CH: Yes. In many respects we have got nothing to lose. We have had a great season so far, and we are still in both championships - only just in the constructors' but it is not over until the points say it is impossible. We have come off the back of a very strong performance in both Singapore and Suzuka, so we will be looking to carry that momentum throughout this weekend here.
Q. How has Sebastian Vettel prepared for this weekend?
CH: He is very relaxed. Again, his confidence is high - especially after such a dominant weekend in Suzuka. But it is a different challenge again here.
Q. Is it simpler for you just having one driver going for the title, rather than trying to look after two?
CH: Absolutely. They are both team players. Mark [Webber] is out of contention for the drivers' championship now and he is a great team player, and I am sure he will support the team as best he possibly can.
Q. I guess Mark knows what his job is this weekend?
CH: Yeah. The strategy is to win the race with Sebastian and take as many points off the Brawns as we can. So we need Mark right up there, and the initial signs are very good. Mark is a team player, and he knows the important role that he can play - most importantly by being ahead of the Brawns.
Q. So the key to your weekend is getting both men up there?
CH: Absolutely. We have to aim for a 1-2 finish. We have managed it on three occasions so far this year, and we have to try and repeat it here.
Q. Did the Suzuka performance lift the belief and confidence that you can do the job here?
CH: It is always a big mountain to climb. Our performance in Singapore was also very, very strong. Without the drive-through penalty Sebastian would have been a guaranteed second and was challenging for the win, and he had been very, very quick in qualifying. Confidence is high and we are pushing very hard. Our approach to the weekend is going to be more aggressive than Brawn's, because they have two drivers competing against each other, and we have got one driver who we can put everything behind. We have absolutely nothing to lose.
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