Horner hails Verstappen for lifting Red Bull in "moments of adversity"

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has lauded world champion Max Verstappen for pushing the team forward in "moments of adversity" throughout the season.

Verstappen secured his maiden F1 world title in the most dramatic of circumstances with a last-lap pass on Lewis Hamilton following a controversial safety car restart.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, however, Horner praised the Dutchman's efforts when things were not going the way of Red Bull across the year.

"An incredible year," said Horner, speaking at the FIA Prize Giving Gala. "When you look back on the season as a whole, 22 races, the biggest season Formula 1 has had.

"It [was] so competitive, on average point one, point two of a second between the two drivers throughout the season.

"The way Max [drove] throughout the year...what really stood out for me was that in moments of adversity, he kept his head, kept pushing, kept driving the team forward, and we know every time he got in the car he has given it 110 per cent, and that lifts everybody around them."

In the closing races of the year, it appeared Mercedes had stolen a march on Red Bull with Hamilton able to extract greater pace from his package from Brazil onwards.

Horner added: "Particularly the second half of the year when we didn't have the fastest package, he kept us in this championship, he kept fighting, he kept believing. It [was] just the most unbelievable year.

"We're incredibly proud of everything he's done and he's totally deserving of the world championship."

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