Christian Horner discusses ‘out of this world’ Max Verstappen and Red Bull, why he wants space from Lewis Hamilton in 2023, and if he’d ever have dinner with Mercedes Formula 1 rival Toto Wolff
Christian Horner has told talkSPORT what it feels like to be back at the top of Formula 1 with Red Bull - and ahead of rivals Mercedes.
Red Bull racing were back to their best for the 2022 season, wrapping up the drivers’ and constructors’ titles with races to spare as they negotiated F1’s new regulations to thwart Ferrari’s threat.
Max Verstappen was able to seal back-to-back championships with four races to go, capping a vastly different feeling to last season’s jaw-dropping final lap overtake to take the title from Lewis Hamilton.
In 2021, Red Bull took the drivers’ title, but the constructors stayed with Mercedes for a record-breaking eighth consecutive season.
Now the trophy is back in Milton Keynes, and team principal Horner is delighted.
“It’s always a very special moment to pick up those two trophies because that’s the realisation of the fact you’ve actually won the championship, particularly the constructors after nine years was a very, very special moment,†he said.
“I think after such a long period of time where one team has dominated in that period, we’ve never let go of our targets and lost track of what our target was so it was very special to get that trophy last night.
“This year’s been incredibly special, to break the records we have, to have 17 race wins out of 22 races, and the first one we didn’t even finish with either car, so it’s been an amazing season and something that the whole team has just been absolutely out of this world."
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Horner, who has been Red Bull team principal for a whopping 18 years, has taken the team to the very top of the sport for the second time, having done so between 2010 and 2013 with Sebastian Vettel his number one driver.
Now, having added to those four titles, Red Bull are creeping up towards very elite territory in the F1 history books, with only five prestigious teams possessing more championships.
Those numbers do matter to Horner, with his team best-placed of anyone on the grid to continue exploiting the new regulations.
“Of course they [records] do matter when you’re looking at the quality of teams that we’re comparing with,†he said.
“That’s incredibly special, particularly when we’re a relatively young team, what we’ve achieved in the period of time that we have I think is outstanding and testament to the people, and the dedication that we’ve seen from all the staff.â€
Ahead of Red Bull in the all-time rankings stand Ferrari in a league of their own on 16 championships, but names such as Lotus, on seven, could well be beaten.
One name will undoubtedly stand-out to Horner more than any other though, and that’s Mercedes, with whom they contested one of F1’s most epic title bouts in 2021.
Discussing the difference this campaign, the 49-year-old said: “Last year was like a heavyweight bout throughout 21 races. but this year Max was truly dominant and it’s been incredible to witness and be part of what he’s managed to achieve this year.â€
There are hints Mercedes could be back, though, after a year where they failed to master the new regulations, seeing Lewis Hamilton fail to win a race for the first-time in his 16-year career.
His teammate, George Russell, did make sure the Silver Arrows returned to the top step of the podium in an epic Brazilian Grand Prix where Verstappen and Hamilton matched each other on pace for the first time of the year.
That ended with the duo exchanging pieces of bodywork, leaving some thrilled that their rivalry may resume in 2023.
That’s not the case for Horner, who was asked if that moment brought any thrills.
“No, not really,†he said honestly. "I prefer it when there’s much more space between the two of them!â€
But it’s not just Verstappen and Hamilton that make the rivalry one of F1’s greats, it’s also Horner and his opposite number at Mercedes, Toto Wolff.
The two have shared plenty of awkward moments both publicly and behind closed doors, but there’s always space for respect once things come to an end.
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The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as well as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have talked about sitting down for dinner and a bottle of wine once their careers are over, and Horner was asked if that could ever happen with him and Wolff.
“You never know…†he said, with a grin that suggested we already do.