Horner responds to dubious championship-winning luck – “These things balance themselves out”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner revealed that he was not bothered with the controversy surrounding his team’s championship win last season.

Max Verstappen won the world championship at the season finale of 2021. However, the way he won it was highly controversial, though it was no fault of his or Red Bull’s. Instead, politics reared its ugly head and the race was turned on its head thanks to a shocking decision made on the last lap.

The decision allowed Verstappen, who had spent the entire race chasing shadows, pass his title rival on the last lap and take victory. Although it was a well-deserved championship, he benefitted immensely from an outright breaking of the rules.

However, Horner revealed that he was not bothered with the controversy surrounding his team’s championship win last season, saying that what happened was in the past.

In an interview, the Red Bull team principal said, “I think there’s been so much controversy throughout the year, (and) I think there’s been so much bad luck that we’ve had during the season that these things tend to balance themselves out.

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Horner (left) celebrates with Verstappen (right) after their victory. Source: Red Bull

“He (Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz) felt Max was very deserving. He was very proud of what he’d done and what the team had achieved.”

Right winner

“I think that it was such an epic year,” he continued.  

“It was probably the most competitive season in Formula 1 in the last 30 years, and I think, for Red Bull, for Max, for Honda, to come out on top, yes, we got a little bit lucky with the Safety Car at the end of the race, but so much bad luck (had) gone against us throughout the season.

“These things, I’ve always said, tend to balance themselves out over the course of a season, and I think Max, he led more than 50 per cent of the laps in the year, more than every other driver combined. He had more pole positions, he had more race wins, and for me he was totally deserving.”

Read more: Horner issues update on Red Bull’s 2022 challenger – “We are expecting some curveball results”

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