Christian Horner on Verstappen: “Nothing lasts forever” / Formula 1

Red Bull Racing’s opponents know: If everything goes well, it will be very difficult to beat the team from Milton Keynes. RBR has won 26 of the last 28 Formula 1 GPs, and the 24-time winner was Max Verstappen. In the last 23 races, only one man has been able to stop the Dutchman from going through: Carlos Sainz in Ferrari, with his victories in Singapore in 2023 and Melbourne in 2024.

Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner has repeatedly emphasized how proud he is of the whole team, including partner Honda, but there is a completely different, strong feeling – gratitude, humility, humility.

At the press conference after the World Cup round at the Shanghai International Circuit, Horner said about the first part of the 2024 season: “Max Verstappen just continued where he left off at the end of 2023 – at an incredible pace. Max has climbed in amazing form. He’s really in one car, he’s never been more excited to race.”

The 50-year-old Horner feels humble: “It is important that we appreciate our achievements. Max is an outstanding talent in the golden phase of his career. But we have experienced even with the main drivers – at some point this series comes to an end, nothing lasts forever.

“No one can guarantee that every year we will bring great cars like we were able to do in 2023 and 2024. We live today and we enjoy the victory.”

The competition never sleeps, and Horner also suspects: “How well we do is also specific. We were very good in China, but things could be different in Miami. For example, we have not driven in hot weather like we do in Florida.

“What was clear, however, was that we were now competing on different race tracks. This gives us hope that we can also have a winning voice at the next GP weekend.

China-GP, Shanghai International Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:40:52,554 h
02. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +13.773
03. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +19,160
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +23,623
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +33,983
06. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +38,724
07. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +43,414
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +56.198
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +57,986
10. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:00,476 min
11. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1:02,812
12. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1:05,506
13. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1:09,223
14. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1:11,689
15. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1:22,768
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1:27.553
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1:35,110
outside
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, collision
Yuki Tsunoda (J), Bulls Racing, Collision
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, engine

World Championship Position (after 5 out of 24 Grands Prix and 1 out of 6 Sprints)

the driver
01. Verstappen 110 points
02. Perez 85
03. Leclerc 76
04. Sainz 69
05. Norris 58
06. Plate 38
07. Russell 33
08. Alonso 31
09. Hamilton 19
10. Walk 9
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 4
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Okon 0
17. Zhou 0
18. Ricciardo 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 195 Punkte
02. Ferrari 151
03. McLaren 96
04. Mercedes 52
05. Aston Martin 40
06. Running Bull 7
07. Exactly 5
08. Williams 0
09. Alpine 0
10. Sauber 0