Christian Horner responds to considerations about Max Verstappen’s continued dominance.
In an era dominated by Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing RB20, team principal Christian Horner has sparked a glimmer of hope among competitors, noting that such supremacy in Formula 1 “won’t last forever. “the excitement and sustainability of the sport given Red Bull’s recent performance.
Max Verstappen broke records, achieving a staggering 19 wins from 22 races in the 2023 season alone. His teammate, Sergio Perez, took victories in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan last year, leaving only one victory for the team: a victory earned by Carlos Sainz at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The 2024 season seems to be following a similar path with Verstappen winning 4 of the first five races. Such streaks of success invariably raise questions about the competitive balance within the sport. Just a few seasons ago, in 2021, the fierce duel between Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen featured a fierce championship war that was highly praised by enthusiasts around the world for its unpredictability.
However, this shift to a single-team display has led to considerations about long-term fan engagement and the overall spectacle of the sport. Reacting to those considerations, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner presented another on the current era of F1. With a desire to cherish those exceptional moments, Horner addressed the impermanence of such dominance in the sport. He commented, quoted via the GP Blog:
“I think you have to value success. Max has a special talent. It’s a golden moment for him. As we’ve noticed with each and every rider, it doesn’t last forever. I think it’s about enjoying the moment. There’s no guarantee that we’re going to be able to offer you a car like this every year for the next five years.
Horner’s comments offer a small but significant assurance that the tide of the festival may turn, potentially cooling the dynamics of the sport in the coming seasons.