“A step ahead”: Christian Horner on what separated Max Verstappen from Lando Norris in the 2024 F1 title battle
Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen’s self-belief and determination were key factors that set him apart from Lando Norris in the 2024 title battle. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, after the Las Vegas GP, the Red Bull Racing CEO highlighted how the Dutchman cemented his title chances despite significant challenges.
In the champion’s press conference, Verstappen credited his self-confidence and self-belief during tough times as a defining factor driving his success. Horner emphasized that Max Verstappen’s mental grit and standout performances in 2024 were career-defining moments that solidified his place among the sport's all-time greats.
Asked by Sportskeeda, if mental grit and determination were the factor that cemented Verstappen’s chances against Norris for the title, Horner said:
“Absolutely. Lando since Miami has had a faster car and you look at the win ratio, it's heavily stacked in Max's favour. So that's taking nothing away from Lando, he has driven very well this year. But I think Max has just been that step ahead.”
Asked if the title victory in 2024 felt more special after the difficulties this season, Horner replied:
“I think this one is a very special victory because you know, it's obviously, there has been challenges this year. But I think that Max, you know, he's scored more than double the amount of race wins than any other driver. He's won it, with two races to go. He's been head and shoulders the best driver on the grid in Formula 1. And I think what he's really done this year is absolutely cemented his position amongst the greats in the sport. I think that both statistically and on the way that he's driven, that's unquestionable now.”
Christian Horner believes that there were moments when the 2024 title looked difficult for Max Verstappen
Christian Horner admitted there were moments around the Monza GP when the driver’s championship seemed like an uphill battle. At Zandvoort, a track where Max Verstappen had previously dominated, he was bested by Lando Norris who had a staggering 27-second margin.
However, Horner pinpointed the turning point of the title race to be Verstappen’s sprint race victory in Austin, followed by his front-row start for the main race. He credited the Brazilian GP performance as the defining moment of Verstappen’s championship-winning campaign.
Starting with an engine penalty from P18, Verstappen masterfully navigated through rainy conditions to claim victory. The performance echoed his iconic drive at the 2016 Brazilian GP, dubbed the “Verstappen show,” where his wet-weather skills first drew widespread acclaim. Despite competing in Red Bulls that weren’t the fastest cars on the grid on both occasions, Verstappen's 2024 victory stood out as a career-defining moment, silencing critics and solidifying his place among the sport’s greats.
Asked if there was a moment in the season when the driver’s championship felt impossible for Max Verstappen, Horner said:
“Yeah I mean Monza is still a long way of the championship to go and we had a significant disadvantage to McLaren, Ferrari and you know and even Mercedes at that point. Now the engineers have worked tirelessly and the men and women behind the scenes you know have worked long hours early mornings, weekends, you know to keep getting performance to the car. For me a real turning point was Austin, you know getting the sprint race victory there getting on the front row for the Grand Prix, the podium that he scored there. And then of course you know, Brazil was really the crowning moment in many respects. It was such an outstanding drive that that provided the match point here and he converted it you know relatively straightforwardly.”
Max Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship with 403 points, securing the title with two races remaining and extending his advantage over Lando Norris to 63 points. Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing sits third in the constructors’ standings, trailing leaders McLaren by 55 points. Ferrari holds second place, 29 points ahead of the Milton Keynes-based team.