Christian Horner hails the 2021 title fight against Mercedes as ‘David vs. Goliath’

Red Bull went toe to toe against the Mercedes in 2021, drawing one of the closest battles in the history of F1.

Christian Horner hails the 2021 title fight against Mercedes as ‘David vs. Goliath’

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff (Credits: Planet F1)

The 2021 season is one of the greatest, featuring an intense rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes. A battle that eventually saw Max Verstappen crowned as the champion, dethroning Lewis Hamilton as the world champion. But, according to Christian Horner, Red Bull’s Team Principal, this victory was more than just a sporting triumph; it was a true David versus Goliath moment.

From 2014 to 2021, Mercedes reigned supreme in Formula One, securing eight consecutive constructors’ championships. The team seemed unstoppable, amassing title after title until Max Verstappen came along in 2021. He ended Mercedes’ driver’s championship streak, marking the dawn of a new era in F1. While Mercedes had taken the sport by storm, Red Bull, the once-dominant force with four consecutive championships before the V6 Turbo Hybrid era, struggled to match the silver arrow’s pace.

YouTube video

The 2021 season was an emotional rollercoaster, with Red Bull and Mercedes battling for dominance. The drivers’ championship came down to the wire, with the tension peaking on the final lap of the final race. Max Verstappen triumphed, collecting his first driver’s title. The climax, however, was clouded by controversy, depriving Lewis Hamilton of a record-breaking eighth world title. 

FS Video

Christian Horner compared Red Bull’s situation to that of David, the underdog, while Mercedes was Goliath, the intimidating juggernaut, in Reflecting on that intense season. For Red Bull, Mercedes’ seven-year reign seemed interminable, but they never lost sight of their aim. Speaking to ESPN on their ‘Unlapped’ podcast, Horner remarked, “In ’21 we were the challenger, we were the David, Mercedes the Goliath. They’d steamrollered the previous seven years in the sport.”

Discover: Helmut Marko reveals Red Bull’s unprecedented target for the remainder of the 2023 season

Christian Horner claims they have become ‘battle-hardened’ due to the struggles during Mercedes’ glory days 

Red Bull and Mercedes in 2021
Red Bull and Mercedes in 2021 (Credits: World in Sport)

During the years of Mercedes’ dominance, Red Bull’s victories were hard-fought and opportunistic. Horner explains, “The races we won, we had to scrap hard for, we had to be super, super sharp.” Red Bull was no match to that of Mercedes, which Horner claims the team “were running with a handicap, effectively.”

The struggling years behind Mercedes have proven to be a blessing in disguise for Red Bull. Horner believes those challenging times have “made us match fit” and prepared them for the epic 2021 season. He states that the 2021 season was “the most epic season in the history of the sport.” He added that the team was “ready for that challenge, we were battle-hardened from those intervening years.”

Fast forward to 2022 and 2023, the tides favored Red Bull, as they assumed the mantle of the “dominant force in F1” from Mercedes. They clinched the 2022 constructors’ title with 17 wins out of 22 races. In 2023, they’ve taken their dominance to a new level, going undefeated in all the races; in conclusion, the 2021 season marked the turning point for Red Bull, as they reclaimed their position at the top of Formula One.

In case you missed it: