Christian Horner feels “Lando Norris had the better car, but Max Verstappen was a step ahead”. Christian Horner acknowledged the car's difficulties managed by Max Verstappen in 2024.

The challenges since Miami
Unlike previous championships won by Max Verstappen, the 2024 season has proven significantly more challenging for the Red Bull driver, who nonetheless managed to secure the drivers’ title against Lando Norris with two races to spare at Las Vegas. Early in the season, the RB20 appeared to maintain an edge over its rivals, but since another U.S. Grand Prix, this time in Miami, McLaren’s progress and Red Bull’s struggles have almost entirely removed the Milton Keynes-based team from the Constructors’ title fight. This is reflected in McLaren’s current leadership position and Ferrari’s second place in the standings.

All credit to Max Verstappen
These challenges have been acknowledged by Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko, and Team Principal Christian Horner. In an interview with *PlanetF1.com*, Horner highlighted what made the difference: the skill and talent of his driver, which led to victory despite the obstacles. “From Miami onwards, Lando had a faster car, and if you look at the win ratio, it’s very much in Max’s favor,” he remarked. “I don’t want to downplay Lando, who drove exceptionally well this year, but I think Max was a step ahead. Miami was a turning point because the car was difficult to drive. But Max adapted and got the most out of it. I think we’ve improved over the last few races, but certainly, at Monza, it felt like the championship was slipping away.”

A source of motivation for the team
Max Verstappen’s performances, while not enough to deliver Red Bull a victory from the Austrian GP to the Brazilian GP, were crucial in maintaining his lead against Lando Norris. Christian Horner pointed out that Max Verstappen’s efforts were a source of inspiration for the entire team: “He’s been an inspiration from the cockpit because, weekend after weekend, he delivered results and drove brilliantly this year, which naturally motivates the rest of the team,” he said. “You just have to watch the opening laps at the start of every Grand Prix weekend to appreciate the level of confidence and self-belief he has.”

These virtues, praised by the British manager, led Christian Horner to call Verstappen the best driver on the grid: “I think he drove with a lot of maturity this year because we didn’t have the fastest car at every race, and on the days we didn’t, he ensured he got the most out of the car and scored crucial points. Max has been the standout driver, absolutely. But he’s part of a team. You win as a team, and you lose as a team. I think he’s been absolutely inspiring from the cockpit, and without a doubt, he’s been the best driver on the grid this year.”