GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Horner responds to Hamilton's comments

Horner responds to Hamilton's comments

Christian Horner and Adrian Newey have guided Red Bull to its first race wins and championships © Sutton Images

Christian Horner has responded to Lewis Hamilton's comments that Red Bull is "just a drinks company" by highlighting the team's achievements.

Red Bull won both championships last year and was the closest challengers to Brawn in 2009, but Hamilton had questioned its heritage amid speculation he could be looking to leave McLaren. Horner said that Red Bull should get more praise for what they have achieved in such a short period.

"I don't know in what context he said that," Horner said. "But for just a drinks company we've beaten an engineering company with the resources that McLaren has had for the last couple of years. So, I am not sure what context he said it. We are much more than just a drinks company.

Ultimately it is down to what you do on the track. We have won 15 grands prix in the last two years, and two world championships, a constructors' and a drivers', and that has been the strongest performance in the pitlane. We are looking to build on that this year. Red Bull Racing is part of Red Bull and Red Bull obviously has a world presence as an energy drink. We are very important to the business and the success that Red Bull has achieved is pretty unique in a very, very short space of time."

Horner also said that he was not worried about losing chief designer Adrian Newey, after Newey admitted that Ferrari had approached him last year. Horner said he didn't think that a move to Italy appealed to the Englishman.

"If I was Ferrari I would have approached him," Horner told The Guardian. "The fact is I don't think he was ever tempted by Ferrari. It has never had the draw that perhaps it has had for others. He is very happy in his environment. He felt that last year was probably the most rewarding of all his championships last year. I think our relationship with Adrian is far more than a piece of paper. He enjoys working at Red Bull. He is a key part of what we do. And he still has the same enthusiasm and motivation for the sport that he has had for the past 25 years. It's great that he has committed himself to the team for the long term."

Credit: ESPN F1 (en.espnf1.com)