Christian Horner hails Verstappen for lifting Red Bull in “moments of adversity”

Christian Horner hails Verstappen for lifting Red Bull in “moments of adversity”

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen secured his maiden F1 title in 2021 after finishing p1 in Abu Dhabi GP overtaking Mercedes’s 7 times world Champion Lewis Hamilton, in the last lap of the season finisher breaking the championship point deadlock. The Dutchman had to defy the odds to steal the title from defending champion Lewis Hamilton going wheel to wheel with him at every race bringing the aggressive brand of racing to another level.

Christian Horner OBE the 49 years old, British Team Principal of the Red Bull Formula One team, since 2005, has secured 4 F! constructers championship and 5 drivers’ championship in his coaching career but the 2021 title run by his driver Max Verstappen is special.

Even though he had 4 consecutive drivers championship wins with Sebastian Vettal the one he has won last year with Max Verstappen should be the toughest one. Christian Horner enabled Max Verstappen to end the hybrid car era dominance of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton and was instrumental in the championship run as he clashed with his Mercedes counterpart Toto wolf strategically on and off the field.

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Find out what Christian Horner said

Christian Horner
Christian Horner

Christian Horner acknowledged that it was an incredible year added that the 22 races long season was the biggest one of his f1 career. Christian Horner acknowledged the competitiveness of title dual between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton thorough out the season.

“An incredible year,  when you look back on the season as a whole, 22 races, the biggest season Formula 1 has had,” Christian Horner said at FIA Prize Giving Gala.

“It [was] so competitive, on average point one, point two of a second between the two drivers throughout the season,” Christian Horner added.

Christian Horner added that Max Verstappen giving his 110% every time he got in the car, pushing the car hard during adversities had lifted the Red Bull team as a whole. Christian Horner went on to explain about Max Verstappen keeping the fight on in the 2nd half of 2021 where Red Bull didn’t have the fastest package. Christian Horner also said Max Verstappen totally deserved the Drivers Championship.

“The way Max [drove] throughout the year…what really stood out for me was that in moments of adversity, he kept his head, kept pushing, kept driving the team forward, and we know every time he got in the car, he has given it 110 per cent, and that lifts everybody around them,” Christian Horner said.

“Particularly the second half of the year when we didn’t have the fastest package, he kept us in this championship, he kept fighting, he kept believing. It [was] just the most unbelievable year, we’re incredibly proud of everything he’s done and he’s totally deserving of the world championship,” Christian Horner added.

Also read: Toto Wolff believes teams should come together in order to strengthen decision making in F1