Horner praises Renault as Red Bull close in on Mercedes

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner in the Paddock during practice for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on April 1, 2016 in Sakhir, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
14 August 2016 by    1 min read

Christian Horner has hailed the hard work of engine manufacturers Renault for getting Red Bull back on track in their chase of the all-conquering Mercedes team.

The Austrian team have lingered a long way behind Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg since the end of 2013, and even dropped into the middle of the pack last year.

But in 2016 they have got back towards the front, with the added engine power hey get form Renault seen as the catalyst.

"The most significant area is on the engine, and credit where's credit's due," Horner told Autosport.

"The guys at Renault, with the restructuring they put into place at the back end of last year, the philosophy changes made, the developments brought in, the engine has clearly made a step forward.

"We've probably halved the gap to Mercedes, and there seems to be a real direction, and good leadership technically at Viry.

"We've made progress on the chassis, and of course these things have to work in combination, but the biggest element I would say is the step forward in the engine."

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