Red Bull duo can give Hamilton a ‘hard time’

Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo can give Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel a “hard time” next season, Red Bull just have to deliver the car.

Although Red Bull made a slow start to this year’s championship, the team’s results have steadily improved throughout the campaign.

This has resulted in two wins in the last four grands prix for Verstappen while Ricciardo’s sole win came in Baku.

The team-mates are currently holding down fourth and sixth in the championship with Ricciardo ahead with Verstappen having suffered the bulk of Red Bull’s reliability issues.

Next season, though, Horner reckons his drivers could be further up the order.

“If we can take the lessons learned out of the RB13 into the RB14 – and with better reliability – I don’t see any reason why both of our drivers shouldn’t be able to give Lewis and Sebastian a hard time,” the Red Bull team boss told Sky Sports.

And while impressed with Hamilton’s fourth World title, which he secured in Mexico, Horner believes his drivers have what it takes to challenge the Mercedes driver.

“[Hamilton] is obviously right at the top of his game so hopefully he will be around for a few more years.

“But I think in Max, in Daniel, in Seb, you have got some fantastic drivers there that are able to go wheel to wheel.

“I feel very confident in our drivers having the ability to do that if we can give them the tools to go shoulder to shoulder with him and hopefully have a great fight which will be great for the sport.”