The cancellation of the Bahrain grand prix could actually benefit Red Bull.

That is the claim of the reigning champion team’s boss Christian Horner, after pundits said the extra two weeks until Melbourne could work in struggling McLaren and Mercedes’ favour.

But Horner told Bild newspaper: "With its long straights, Bahrain would not have been our showcase race."

Red Bull has long insisted that its cars are not as fast in a straight line as its rivals due to the underpowered Renault engine.

And as for the claim that the Bahrain cancellation gives struggling teams more time to catch up, Horner insisted: "Ten more days is not going to make much of a difference."

Mercedes’ Norbert Haug, however, does not agree.

"At this point before the start of a season, all the teams are doing things literally at the very last minute," he told Auto Motor und Sport.

He said the extra time until the new season opener in Australia therefore gives every competitor "just a little bit more air".