“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 Purple Bull boss.

On paper it’ll imply little, definitely in ten or twenty years. Nevertheless, the very fact is that this was in all probability Max Verstappen’s best season.

Sure, there have been just a few questionable strikes within the latter half of the 12 months, nonetheless contemplating what he was up in opposition to – a few resurgent groups, the shortage of a supporting teammate and a shadow hanging over his group for a lot of the 12 months – the boy performed nicely.

Among the many first to sing Verstappen’s praises as he put the 2024 title out of attain, was group 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 another driver.

“He is gained it with two races to go,” he stated of the title. “He is been head and shoulders the most effective driver on the grid in Method 1, and I feel what he is actually performed this 12 months is totally 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 the summer season months, after we had 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 a large 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 performed within the cockpit, and I feel he is impressed inside the cockpit, however out of the cockpit as nicely. The way in which he is performed himself, the best way he is labored with the engineers, and all of the technical employees, has been phenomenal.”

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

“I am extremely happy with everybody, what they’ve performed for me, so in the mean time I am simply feeling very relieved, in a method, but in addition 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 completely satisfied to be there and dreaming of potential victories or standing on the rostrum, you already know, the traditional issues which can be already very troublesome to realize.

“Then we simply bought onto that run after in fact a tricky few years, so we stored making an attempt after which we simply hit the bottom working 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 certain it was a really difficult season. I feel additionally as an individual, at instances it’s totally difficult. I needed to be calm.

“I feel in a method, in fact, I nonetheless choose final season,” he admitted, “I loved it loads, however I feel this season, undoubtedly once more taught me numerous classes.

“I am very happy with how we dealt with it additionally as a group. So in a method in fact that makes it additionally very, very particular, and a wonderful season.”

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