Red Bull has ‘synchronised’ start plan for Mexican GP

Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner wants Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen to carry out a “synchronised” plan of attack for the start of the Mexican Grand Prix.

Ricciardo pipped teammate Verstappen to pole position in Mexico City to seal Red Bull’s first front-row lockout of the V6 hybrid era, though Horner is wary of the threat rivals Mercedes and Ferrari will pose on the long run down to Turn 1.

In order to combat the straight-line speed advantage both teams hold over his Renault-powered Red Bull outfit, Horner wants his drivers to work together in order to maintain their brilliant starting positions heading into the first sequence of corners.

"Synchronised driving down to Turn 1 and drive as wide as you can against that Ferrari and Mercedes on the drag race down to Turn 1,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 when asked what he will tell his drivers prior to the race start.

"We saw in Japan when Sebastian was behind Max, we saw Sebastian on Daniel in Austin last weekend, it’s [the Ferrari] so strong in a straight line. And it’s the same with Lewis.

"They have to be more focused on what those guys are doing than too focused on themselves. We will discuss all these things in the briefing."

Horner insisted Ricciardo and Verstappen are free to race on the proviso they will play the run to Turn 1 sensibly to avoid throwing away a strong result for the team.

"They both really want it and that’s the danger. But they are both part of a team and they need to keep that in mind,” he explained.

"They are free to race, but they have got to keep it clean. The race isn't going to be won in the first corner, it’s all about looking after these tyres.

"They are fragile as hell as we can see, and it will be about making sure we have a strategy that can stay ahead of the Ferrari and Mercedes."