Christian Horner, Red Bull Formula 1 team principal, says Max Verstappen’s victory at United States Grand Prix honours the late Mateschitz. The victory marked the constructors’ championship title for the Red Bull team after 9 years.
The dual victory at 2022 season came after Red Bull boss Mateschitz passed away. Horner suggested that the sad event made Verstappen more determined to win the race at Austin.
The Dutchman looked to win the Austin race without trouble. However, slow pit lane stop caused 11 second delay dropping him to third place.
Lewis Hamilton took the lead with Charles Leclerc on his tail. Verstappen took a few laps to chase the Ferrari and then eventually made his way to the top. He scored his 13th victory of the season standing beside Schumacher and Vettel for the record.
“I think that Max was driving a very controlled race today,” said Horner.
“And then it all came alive when we had a gun issue on the second stop for Max. We’d already elected to go on to the medium, which we felt was the better tyre.
“And he lost close to probably eight seconds in the pitstop. Which put him behind Charles [Leclerc]. And then obviously he had to close down that gap down to Lewis. And it was almost as if it had been scripted for him to have to come back through the field.
“I think Dietrich would have quite enjoyed that race from above to see us overtaking Mercedes with five or six laps to go, and win the constructors’ World Championship. I think he would have been very proud about that race today.”
Plus: Red Bull “never stopped believing”
Horner addressed the wheelgun issue, he said: “We’ve had it once in a practice. It’s gone into quarantine. It’ll go through its process, and we’ll find out what happened.”
Verstappen had to pace himself and be patient after frustrating long pit stop. The straight line speed advantage helped him gain on Hamilton, who was on hard tyres.
“I think we were probably more competitive on the medium than we were on the hard. So that was why we went back onto the medium at that second stop.
“And his pace, obviously, at the back end of the stint was then strong enough to really take it to Lewis.
“So it was a game of patience. And I think Max was able to quickly get his frustration under control leaving the pit lane and not cook the tyres but bring them in, make the pass on Charles and then hunt down Lewis.
“The one opportunity he had was decisive and he got the job done.”
