Following the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner praised McLaren, the champions, and offered his take on the competition for next season, and his thoughts on the 2026 season which is set to be the biggest one yet.
Horner congratulates McLaren F1
Horner praised all of the key people of McLaren F1 and their stakeholders for their outstanding season. The 51-year-old adds how difficult it is to win the World Constructors’ Championship and added that the Woking-based team was the deserving victors.
Norris and Piastri won six races between them and consistently scored points, unlike at Red Bull where Sergio Pérez collapsed after a good start.
“I’ve just got to say congratulations to McLaren, to all the men and women there.
“We know how hard it is to win a Constructors’ World Championship and the dedication and effort that has to go into that.
“So, to Zak [Brown] and Andrea [Stella] and their shareholders, but most of all the men and women, you know, at McLaren, congratulations.
“They’ve been outstanding this year. They’ve had two drivers that have performed, you know, extremely well. And, they were deserving victors in the end.
“And I’m sure that we raised pulses and heart pressure or blood pressure at the start of the race with Oscar [Piastri having contact with Max Verstappen].”
Despite Red Bull winning more Grands Prix and more Sprint races compared to them, it was not enough to beat McLaren for the title due to Pérez’s performance slump, as well as the car becoming harder to drive for both, and subsequently Red Bull was unable to defend the title they took in 2022 and 2023.
“But yeah, they deserve that Constructors’ Championship this year, despite the fact that we won more races, more Sprint races.
“And, obviously, collectively, we didn’t put enough points on the board to defend that title. So, very well done to them.”
Differences in rivalries
Horner did not entertain any questions regarding the differences of the rivalry between McLaren and Mercedes, and he stated that it was “McLaren’s day”.
“Today is McLaren’s day, so let them enjoy today. Congrats to Zak, Andrea, [Prince] Salman [bin Hamad Al Khalifa], Jeff [Moorad], and the shareholders and the whole team.
“Let’s today salute McLaren for being the 2024 Constructors’ World Champions.”
Red Bull’s 2025 challenge
After winning seven races before the summer break at the hands of Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s dominant start to the season seems unlikely to be able to be replicated next year.
McLaren (from Miami) and Ferrari (from Monza) had a faster car at most circuits as even Verstappen finished miles off the victor and podium finishers at various events.
Horner himself tipped that at least four teams will be gunning for the Constructors’ Championship, and the biggest winner will be Formula One itself.
“I think if you looked at points since the summer break until before this race, I think they were even, or maybe Charles [Leclerc] was very slightly ahead in terms of individual points scored.
“And so you can see it’s going to be massively close next year.
“You’ve got at least four teams that are going to be in contention in the last year of these regulations of winning Grands Prix.
“So I think the biggest winner will be Formula One next year.”
The season will be long and difficult with tight competition. Bagging big points consistently will be the key to title glory.
“I think that it’s going to be fine margins everywhere. And, of course, getting out of the blocks well is always imperative.
“But you can see it’s such a long season that consistency will be key.”
Horner on the new regulations in 2026
Despite having four teams being the contenders for the title next year, 2026, however, will completely shake the whole grid with regulation changes, including those that regulate powertrains.
Horner admits it is a shame the regulations change so often just as the field bunches up, new regulations are introduced.
“Well, look, that often happens. Formula 1 is very good at changing the rules just as things get spicy.”
With regulations concerning powertrains and chassis set to change in just overall year, it will be one of the biggest revolutions in the last 60 years according to the Briton.
Nonetheless, he also adds that 2025 will be the main focus at this point.
“And yes, 2026 is the biggest reset in probably the last 60 years of Formula 1, where both powertrain and chassis are changing.
“But that’s the same for everyone. There’ll be winners and losers from that. So, first of all, 2025 is where the focus will be.”
