Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the team’s double-DNF in the closing stages of Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix was its “worst nightmare”.
Both Red Bull’s were running in the top four during the final laps when they suffered mechanical issues, costing the team a 30-point haul in the constructors’ championship.
Verstappen, who was on for second place behind eventual winner Charles Leclerc, suddenly slowed three laps from the end and headed to the pitlane, before team-mate Perez spun at Turn 1 on the last lap when his engine seized.
Reflecting on Red Bull’s first double retirement since Austria 2020, Horner couldn’t believe how the situation unfolded having been on course for a double points finish.
“I can’t remember the last time that happened to us, but it’s obviously your worst nightmare,” Horner said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“It’s hugely disappointing, not only to lose a podium with Max but on the last lap to lose a podium with Checo as well.”
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Horner added: “A brutal finish, that race for us. What looked like a decent haul of points suddenly evaporated in the last couple of laps there.”
Although Red Bull is yet to confirm the exact cause of the failures, the team suspects it suffered a fuel pump failure on both cars.
“We just need to get the cars back, get the fuel system apart and understand, because we know the fuel was in there. That’s frustrating,” Horner said.
“We just need to get on top of this issue and fight back next weekend.”
While the result is a major setback to its title ambitions, Horner was left encouraged by Red Bull’s pace in Bahrain.
“I think the positive side for us is we had a very competitive car, I don’t think we had quite the pace of Charles today, but some great racing between Max and Charles,” Horner said.
“We were fighting for the race win at different points of that race.
“It’s a long, long season, 23 races. We’ll get this behind us and get stuck into the next event.”
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