“Obviously inspired rest of the team”: Christian Horner addresses Max Verstappen’s self-belief factor in winning the 4th F1 championship

Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen’s unwavering self-confidence and determination played a pivotal role in securing his fourth F1 title. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, in Las Vegas, the Red Bull team principal praised Verstappen's maturity and skillset during a challenging 2024 season.

After clinching the championship, Verstappen highlighted the importance of self-belief and relentless effort in overcoming adversity. Reflecting on moments like capitalizing on Brazil’s chaotic wet weather and triumphing in tough races like Spain and Imola, the 26-year-old credited his mindset as the foundation of his success.

Horner echoed this sentiment, pointing to Verstappen’s consistency and precision, especially during out-laps, as an example of his excellence. He commended the Dutch driver for inspiring the team with his determination and grit, particularly during Red Bull’s struggles with the underwhelming RB20 post-Miami. According to Horner, Verstappen’s ability to deliver in critical moments kept the team motivated and competitive, culminating in a season-defining performance in Brazil.

Asked by Sportskeeda about the balance between team effort and Max Verstappen’s self-belief in securing championship success, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stated:

“Well look of course it is a team and he's been inspirational from within the cockpit. Because weekend in, weekend out he's been delivering and he's driven brilliantly and that obviously inspires the rest of the team. And I think that you know that his self-confidence the self-belief, you only have to watch the out-lap at the beginning of any Grand Prix weekend to see the level of confidence, the level of self-belief that he has in himself. And I think he's driven with real maturity this year because we haven't had the fastest car at every race and that on the days that we haven't had the fastest car, he's made sure that he's extracted the absolute best out of it and you know scored big points.”

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Christian Horner believes 2024 title win for Max Verstappen was as challenging as his first in 2021

Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen’s 2024 championship was as challenging as his 2021 battle against Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. He praised Verstappen’s dedication and hard work, which inspired the team during tough weekends. Horner admired the Dutchman’s ability to secure the title in a car that wasn’t the fastest for much of the season, highlighting his perseverance and determination.

While Red Bull started the year strong, McLaren’s performance surged after the Miami GP, making victories increasingly hard-fought. Horner credited Verstappen’s resilience as a key factor in overcoming the odds to clinch the championship.

Asked if the success felt better since Red Bull did not have the fastest car, Horner said:

"Look, I think this was together with 2021, the toughest. This one, we started the season very strongly but by Miami it was clear that you know McLaren have made a significant step. But Max you know when you look back at the season as a whole and you think back to the races he won in Imola and Barcelona and Montreal, that were all very tough closely fought races. Through the summer months when we were struggling a bit he was still second in Silverstone, second in Zandvoort, he was still picking up big podiums and results.”

“And behind the scenes, he was putting a massive amount of effort in, with the engineers and designers and on the simulator and more than any of the previous years. And I think you know he's been outstanding this year not only the what he's done in the cockpit and I think he’s inspired you know within the cockpit. But you know out of the cockpit as well, the way he's conducted himself, the way he's worked with the engineers and all the technical staff has been phenomenal.”

Max Verstappen secured his fourth title with two races to spare, amassing a total of 403 points. To clinch the championship, he only needed to finish ahead of Lando Norris in the top 10. However, Red Bull remains third in the Constructors’ standings with 555 points, trailing McLaren by 53 points and Ferrari by 29. McLaren leads the standings with 608 points, while Ferrari has accumulated 584.

While Verstappen’s brilliance has powered his individual success, Red Bull’s Constructors’ campaign has faltered due to Sergio Perez’s contrasting fortunes. The Mexican has scored just 152 points across 22 races and currently sits eighth in the Drivers’ standings.