Formula 1: Verstappen claims record win at US Grand Prix, Horner says Red Bull’s constructors’ crown means the world
- Max Verstappen’s 13th victory equals record for number of wins in season, with 3 races to go
- Team boss Christian Horner says first triumph since 2013 has special significance because of tough times that came before
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said winning the Formula One constructors’ title had a special significance because of the tough times the team had been through since their previous success.
The team clinched their fifth constructors’ title, and first since 2013, when double world champion Max Verstappen won the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Sunday and Mexican Sergio Perez was fourth.
Verstappen’s win was his thirteenth of the year, tying Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) for most in a season with three races still to go.
The championship ended a record run of eight in a row for Mercedes.
“It means even more [than previous ones] because we’ve had the tough years,” Horner said. “We’ve had to keep picking ourselves up, dusting ourselves, coming back and coming back.
“And we’ve done that. So the hard work and the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this, this one just means the world to us.”
Red Bull entered the sport in 2005 and, with top designer Adrian Newey on board, took four successive drivers’ and constructors’ titles with Germany’s Sebastian Vettel from 2010-13.
Then the rules changed, with a V6 turbo hybrid engine replacing the much simpler and fuel-thirsty V8s, and Mercedes made big gains while Red Bull’s then-partners Renault struggled.