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Horner on exhausts, Webber and a 1971 March

Laurence Edmondson July 5, 2011

Fresh from a run up the Goodwood hill climb in a 1971 March 711, Red Bull boss Christian Horner sandwiched a quick interview with Laurence Edmondson between his other media duties and lunch

Christian Horner got behind the wheel of Ronnie Peterson's March 711 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed © Sutton Images
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The March 711, was that your choice?

No, Lord March invited me to have a run it. It was a great privilege to drive one of Ronnie Peterson's old cars and obviously that car stands out from that era as being something quite different, built by March at a time when Max Mosley was a shareholder in the company. It was a great pleasure to drive that car today.

Do you think it's a shame we don't see such variation in design in modern F1?

Everything moves on, doesn't it? Just seeing in the collecting area cars from the 1960s, '70s, '80s, '90s and 2000s you can see how everything just moves on and that's inevitable in any sport but particularly motorsport.

I'm sure you've got Silverstone at the back of your mind, so how do you rate your chances there?

It's difficult to say with a regulation clarification coming through with the exhausts that could well have a big impact. We don't take anything for granted and we'll turn up there and do our best to try and get a hat-trick of wins at our home race.

You were quoted as saying that regulation change would be worth 0.5 seconds on your car, is that correct?

I think it's so hard to predict - we don't know if it's 0.5 seconds or 0.8. Until we run on track it's impossible to say. What we also don't know is what it is worth on other people's cars and that's the bigger question.

You were also quoted as saying that you've only been running a cold-blown diffuser this season, is that correct?

Yes.

Christian Horner: "I think Ferrari have made a step forward recently" © Getty Images
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Valencia was a commanding win, especially over McLaren, who do you think will be your biggest rivals at the British Grand Prix?

I think Ferrari have made a step forward recently, they've been competitive in all the races. I think that McLaren, for sure, will be competitive with two British drivers who are going to pumped up, so you can't write any of those guys off. Our focus is obviously on ourselves to try to get the best out of RB7 at this track, which should hopefully suit us.

Mark has said that he still thinks he can win a championship with Red Bull. Is that something you believe and is he going to be around to do it next year?

Absolutely, I think that Mark is more than capable of doing that. He's driving incredibly well, these tyres have been a tough transition but he's getting stronger and stronger and we're very happy with the job that both our drivers are doing.

Red Bull's third driver Daniel Ricciardo is going to HRT for this weekend, can you explain the thinking behind that?

To give him experience. Obviously it's all credit to Red Bull for giving Daniel a chance and he deserves his chance in Formula One. He will remain our test driver and reserve driver, but it's great for him to make his debut, in a similar way that Damon Hill did all those years ago.

Is the plan then to progress him through Toro Rosso and one day to Red Bull?

Who knows? Let's take it one step at a time. He's got his first opportunity to make his grand prix debut and that's special for any young driver. It's down to him now to make the most of that opportunity.

Laurence Edmondson is the deputy editor on ESPNF1

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Laurence Edmondson is deputy editor of ESPNF1 Laurence Edmondson grew up on a Sunday afternoon diet of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell and first stepped in the paddock as a Bridgestone competition finalist in 2005. He worked for ITV-F1 after graduating from university and has been ESPNF1's deputy editor since 2010