“He’s been outstanding this year,” says Horner of Verstappen

Dutchman’s fourth successive title “completely cements” his place among the many sport’s greats insists Pink Bull boss.

On paper it’ll imply little, definitely in ten or twenty years. Nevertheless, the actual fact is that this was most likely Max Verstappen’s most interesting season.

Sure, there have been just a few questionable strikes within the latter half of the 12 months, nevertheless contemplating what he was up towards – a few resurgent groups, the shortage of a supporting teammate and a shadow hanging over his workforce for a lot of the 12 months – the boy finished effectively.

Among the many first to sing Verstappen’s praises as he put the 2024 title out of attain, was workforce boss, Christian Horner.

“I feel this one is a really particular victory as a result of clearly there have been challenges this 12 months,” stated the Briton in a masterpiece of understatement. “However I feel that Max scored greater than double the quantity of race wins than every other driver.

“He is gained it with two races to go,” he stated of the title. “He is been head and shoulders one of the best driver on the grid in Formulation 1, and I feel what he is actually finished this 12 months is completely cement his place amongst the greats within the sport. And I feel that each statistically and on the best way that he is pushed, that is unquestionable.

“I feel this was, along with 2021, the hardest,” the Briton continued, referring to the exhausting fought battle with Lewis Hamilton for that first title. “This one, we began the season very strongly. However by Miami, it was clear that McLaren had made a big step.

“By means of the summer time months, after we have been struggling a bit with the automotive, he was nonetheless second at Silverstone, second at Zandvoort. He was nonetheless choosing up podiums and outcomes and behind the scenes, was placing an enormous quantity of effort in, with the engineers and designers and on the simulator, greater than any of the earlier years.

“I feel he is been excellent this 12 months. Not solely what he is finished within the cockpit, and I feel he is impressed throughout the cockpit, however out of the cockpit as effectively. The way in which he is performed himself, the best way he is labored with the engineers, and all of the technical workers, has been phenomenal.”

“It has been an extended season,” stated the Dutchman. “After all we began off superb, it was nearly like cruising, however then we had a tricky run. However as a workforce, we saved it collectively, we saved engaged on enhancements and we pulled off the win.

“I am extremely pleased with everybody, what they’ve finished for me, so in the meanwhile I am simply feeling very relieved, in a means, but additionally proud.”

Requested, trying again to when he entered the game, if he ever envisaged 4 titles, he stated: “Undoubtedly not! I used to be simply glad to be there and dreaming of potential victories or standing on the rostrum, you realize, the conventional issues which might be already very tough to attain.

“Then we simply bought onto that run after after all a tricky few years, so we saved attempting after which we simply hit the bottom operating with the brand new idea and like I stated, to be standing right here a four-time world champion is simply unbelievable.”

Having cruised to the 2023 title, requested how this season in contrast, he stated: “For positive it was a really difficult season. I feel additionally as an individual, at instances it’s extremely difficult. I needed to be calm.

“I feel in a means, after all, I nonetheless desire final season,” he admitted, “I loved it so much, however I feel this season, positively once more taught me a whole lot of classes.

“I am very pleased with how we dealt with it additionally as a workforce. So in a means after all that makes it additionally very, very particular, and a stupendous season.”

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