Horner dismisses Red Bull 'fragility' fears

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has dismissed fears the RB18 is "fragile" after two more issues for both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at F1's inaugural Miami Grand Prix.

Reigning champion Verstappen missed most of Friday's practice running with a hydraulic issue before his Mexican team-mate survived a power unit problem to finish fourth at the Miami International Autodrome.

The worries follow a double-retirement at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and a second non-finish for Verstappen at Albert Park in Australia, meaning that despite winning all three races he has finished and the Imola sprint, the Dutchman remains 19 points adrift of Charles Leclerc in the drivers' standings.

But allaying fears of inherent fragility, Horner insisted: "I don't think the car is particularly fragile.

"I think there have been niggly things that you would normally have seen in pre-season testing that have only reared their head as we have got into the season so that has been frustrating.

"We are working closely with HRC and they are giving us great support so I think we will get those ironed out."

Perez could have finished second - Horner

Perez pressurised Carlos Sainz for third on fresher medium tyres after ducking into the pits during a late safety car period but was unable to find a way through as his Red Bull lagged in a straight line.

"He had an issue with a sensor on one of the cylinders," said Horner, detailing the problem.

"He lost a lot of track time, the guys managed to move the sensors around but he was down, probably, around 20 kilowatts of power as a result.

"Even with the advantage of the new tyres he had, he was around half a second off what the car was capable of in straight-line speed and without that, he would have probably even been P2."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes

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