Horner: All cycles end, Mercedes won't win forever

This, of course, the background to the increasingly tense Formula 1 contest between their drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen out on track, with the Mercedes boss 'un-favouriting' his team at any opportunity he can, with the Red Bull boss inevitably rebuking what his rival has to say.

Wolff is always keen to play down his team's chances and this year found it apt to pin the favourite tag on Red Bull, during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend Horner was tapped up for a response.

He told reporters in Monte Carlo: "Max is driving the wheels off the car. There is all this bullshit about Red Bull are favourites this season.

"Mercedes are seven-times champions consecutively. Last year their car was dominant, this year's car is a carry-over from that; yes the regulations affected them a bit, but you can see they still have a quicker car than us.

"Max is doing an amazing job to extract as much from it as he is. He is the only one keeping Lewis honest. He just gets in and gives it 100 per cent. He is a bit Mansell-esque in that respect. He's an attacking driver and doesn't know any different. That's what makes him so exciting.

"He has passed Lewis four times this season, including when he had to hand the place back in Bahrain. He's not afraid to do that. I don't see anyone else who could," added Horner.

Also irking the Red Bull team boss is constant speculation that Verstappen will ditch the energy drinks outfit and defect to Wolff's Mercedes team at some point in the future.

Horner explained: "We have a contract with Max. It will be interesting to see what Toto does with his second seat. He's a little bit conflicted because he manages both drivers (Bottas and Russell) as well as employs them. Who is he actually negotiating with?

"When George jumped in the car in Bahrain and drove as well as he did, it was the best and worst thing he could have done."

Horner also had a go at Hamilton who years ago doubted Red Bull could become a force in F1, clearly, a statement that still irks Horner: "Red Bull, as a certain famous British driver once said, is just an energy drink. And they can't compete with McLaren and Ferrari. I think we have demonstrated we absolutely can.

"We're taking control of our own destiny. The only other team that has their chassis and engine departments under the same roof is Ferrari. Mercedes are split between Brackley and Brixworth and have different shareholdings now. It's a long-term strategic advantage for Red Bull."

In closing, Horner turned philosopher: "All cycles come to an end. Mercedes won't win forever. That is the only thing we can be sure of. I can't guarantee they won't win this race but they won't always win it."