F1 | Red Bull, Horner: “Verstappen's title is as special as Vettel's first”

2021 has been a special year for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, with the Dutchman taking the world champion title by getting the better of Lewis Hamilton in the final race in Abu Dhabi. A success that allowed the standard-bearer from Milton Keynes to interrupt the Englishman's world championship hegemony which had lasted since 2017.

Red Bull TP Chris Horner wanted to focus on the triumph of '33, underlining how this victory is special and is comparable to Vettel's in 2010 because even in this case the outcome was by no means a foregone conclusion.

"It's always difficult to make comparisons – declared Horner, quoted by RacingNews365 – But I think the first title was very special, because that was also against all odds, and I think this is just as special as the first title. I think the intensity and competitiveness of this has been crazy, I think the quality of our rivals. Both Lewis and Mercedes have taken us beyond what we thought we were capable of. What makes it all the more gratifying is the fact that during the hybrid era Mercedes have all been dominant. We managed to design a competitive car and Max grabbed it with both hands". 

Horner, recognizing the particular merits of Verstappen, added: “We are incredibly proud of what Max has done. Particularly in the second half of the season when we didn't have the fastest package he kept us in the championship game. He kept fighting, he kept believing, and it was the most incredible year. He deserved this title".