Christian Horner reflects on 'unbelievable' journey as Red Bull near sixth Constructors' Championship

The energy drinks company took over the struggling Jaguar Formula One team after the 2004 season and created Red Bull Racing, founded by the late Dietrich Mateschitz, with Horner being appointed as team principal.

Red Bull are likely to clinch their sixth Constructors' Championship this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix – the home race of engine supplier Honda – after enjoying a dominant season in which they have won 14 of 15 races, only being beaten for the first time in Singapore last week.

Horner has overseen two periods of success in his time with the team, with Sebastian Vettel winning four successive drivers' titles between 2010 and 2013 and Max Verstappen closing in on a hat-trick of championships.

The 49-year-old expressed his pride at the achievements of the team and says they have never operated at a higher level than this season.

"When I first came in it was clear that Dietrich (Mateschitz) had come into Formula One because he wanted to compete," Horner said at Suzuka.

"He had bought what was the Jaguar F1 team which had been a perennial sort of seventh–placed finisher. It is about then constructing a team and I don't think any of us could have envisaged what was ahead of us.

"Within 19 seasons to have achieved what we have has been a phenomenal journey so far.

"No (we have never performed at this level before). We have had some great seasons but I think what we have achieved up to Singapore, 14 straight wins across all the different venues we have been to has been an outstanding performance.

"Everybody at the team is incredibly proud of what we have achieved; 14 straights wins this season, 15 if you include Abu Dhabi last year, up to last weekend we had only been beaten at one race in the last 12 months, Max taking 10 wins in a row beating Seb's record from 2013, six one-two finishes so far.

"It has been a hell of a season for us.

"I think it is the spirit, the culture, the passion and the commitment of the whole team and the way that we work as a team. That is the biggest standout element for me."

Verstappen heads into the Japanese Grand Prix with a huge 151-point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez having seen his record 10-race winning run ended in Singapore.

Horner lauded the 25-year-old Dutch driver, who returned to top form by topping both practice sessions on Friday at Suzuka.

"He just gets sharper and sharper. The raw speed and ability has been there from day one and that hunger and passion that he drives with," Horner said.

"But now he couples that with experience and the way he reads a race, manages tyres, reads a situation is phenomenal. He pushes the team, we push him and we both go to new levels."

Horner is keen to keep focus on success moving forward and the next big test of the Red Bull team as they prepare to partner with Ford to develop their own engines for 2026 onwards.

"It is never about looking back, it is about looking forward and I think that for us if we can close out these championships in the coming races that is a huge statistic that everybody can be really proud of," Horner added.

"It then becomes about looking at next year and the year after and the next chapter for Red Bull is the relationship with Ford for 2026 and producing our own power train.

"Going from zero as a start-up company effectively and building a facility, that is the next challenge but it has been quite a journey and hopefully a few more chapters to go.

"For us, starting from scratch is our biggest risk and it is our biggest opportunity. It is going to be an interesting journey and I'm sure all the manufacturers are working incredibly hard."

 

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