Red Bull 'can take fight' to big teams

Red Bull won six races this year and finished second in the Constructors' Championship after its Adrian Newey-designed RB5 launched the team to the front of the field.

Despite recognising that the team will face tough opposition next year, he believes that Red Bull will be a frontrunner next year.

"We have got some formidable opponents," Horner told AUTOSPORT. "McLaren and Ferrari are big teams that have demonstrated this year their ability to come back after bad starts by both winning grands prix in the second half of the season.

"They are going to be pushing extremely hard, but we can take the fight to them next year with continuity in many areas including drivers and personnel."

Horner added that he believes that the team came of age this year and that he is confident that the form will be maintained.

"We are confident that we have got a great team of people here that has really come of age this year," said Horner.

"The new regulations provided that opportunity and the lessons learned this year will only stand us in good stead for 2010."