Christian Horner: Kimi Antonelli has 'deserved' the position of Mercedes' top driver

Horner contends that Antonelli is the right choice to guide the formidable Mercedes team forward should another competitor emerge as a serious threat, amidst an ongoing discussion about the necessity of prioritizing one driver within a team.

His Red Bull team frequently supported this approach during his tenure as team principal from 2005 to 2025, initially with Sebastian Vettel and later with Max Verstappen — both of whom claimed four world championships each.

In contrast, McLaren adopted a different strategy last year with Oscar Piastri and eventual champion Lando Norris, both receiving equal treatment but nearly being outpaced by Verstappen.

As Horner pointed out, a historical example is from 1986 when Williams developed the constructors' championship-winning FW11 for Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet, who ultimately lost the drivers' title to Alain Prost of McLaren.

Mansell's hopes of winning the 1986 title dramatically ended with an exploding tyre at the Australia finale

“It’s quite challenging to keep everyone satisfied all the time,” Horner stated to Autosport. “You have to be straightforward and focus on the principles of ‘what are the objectives here’.

“Ultimately, the team comes first, and the drivers are essentially contractors. Expecting both drivers to have a fair shot at winning a world championship is not realistic.

“In the end, one driver will emerge as the dominant force on track. They are given the same opportunities and equipment, yet respect and status within a team are earned through on-track performance.

“Take Kimi Antonelli as an example. He is securing his place within the team through his on-track achievements, and if a close contest arises between him and a rival from another team, the team must take a definitive stance.

“Failure to do so risks jeopardizing a championship, much like what happened with Williams back in the day with Mansell and Piquet against Prost. It’s all about how you prepare for competition.”

The rationale behind Red Bull's consistent preference for a number one driver likely traces back to 2010, when Vettel and teammate Mark Webber frequently clashed while competing for the title.

This rivalry almost allowed Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to seize that championship, but beginning in 2011, Vettel established his dominance over Webber, with Verstappen following suit against his various teammates.

Everything at Red Bull is built around Verstappen

“What I learned during those early days was that as a young team that had just begun winning, the pressures and expectations that come with success escalated quickly,” Horner reflected.

“The media attention and scrutiny become intense, and everything is dissected thoroughly, so you must adhere to your principles.

“You can't please everyone all the time; the focus should be on what’s best for the team.

“That was my role; I was there to do what was best for Red Bull Racing, which inherently meant winning.”