Horner pokes fun at McLaren after F1 title scare

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has congratulated McLaren on its title victory in Abu Dhabi as he acknowledged the team likely suffered raised blood pressure as a result of Max Verstappen’s botched overtake attempt.

McLaren started the race in a comfortable position with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri filling out the first row on the grid.

However, Piastri was sent to the rear of the field when he was spun by Verstappen at the opening corner, resulting in a 10-second time penalty for the four-time world champion.

Norris’ victory ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in second and third respectively was enough to seal the title for McLaren, its first in 16 years.

“I’ve just got to say congratulations to McLaren, to all the men and women there,” Horner told media including RacingNews365.

“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], Andrea [Stella], and their shareholders, but most of all, the men and women at McLaren, congratulations. They’ve been outstanding this year.

“They’ve had two drivers that have performed extremely well and were deserving victors in the end.

“I’m sure that we raised pulses and blood pressure at the start of the race with the moment with Oscar.”

Red Bull ended the season in third place as it suffered significant points losses through a struggling Sergio Perez.

Horner acknowledged McLaren is a deserving winner despite Red Bull securing more race victories during the campaign.

“They deserve that constructors’ championship this year despite the fact that we won more races, more sprint races,” he said.

“Collectively, we didn’t put enough points on the board to defend that title. So very well done.”