Horner pays tribute to team as Red Bull formally crowned champions

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner has paid tribute to the "excellency" of the team, after they were formally crowned 2023 F1 Constructors' Champions at the FIA Prize Giving Gala.

It was a year of domination for Red Bull and the RB19, after they won every Grand Prix on the calendar apart from Singapore.

The car also achieved a further 14 pole positions at the hands of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, underlining just how dominant a year it has been for the team.

Horner paid tribute to the efforts of the team based in Milton Keynes, UK, after accepting the Constructors' Championship trophy from President Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the Prize Giving Gala in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"It's been the most amazing season for the team breaking so many records this year winning 21 out of 22 races, and five out of six sprint races. It's something very, very special," said Horner at the FIA Prize Giving Gala.

"It's something every man and woman within the team has contributed to behind the scenes to achieve this level of excellency.

"This award tonight is very much on behalf of all those men and women that we have within Oracle Red Bull Racing, who have done such an amazing job to support both drivers. A big year for us and I'm hugely proud of what we've achieved."

Horner: F1 doesn't really stop

The 2023 season was one of the longest on the calendar, as the teams traversed 22 races across five continents.

Horner was quick to point out that teams will be busy in the off-season, as they count down the days before pre-season testing in February next year.

"First thing is to get to the airport in time! It's busy off-season for everybody, Formula 1 never really stops and 2024 is already in everybody's eyes," said Horner.

"Now the cars are coming together as we speak and the season will be up and running again in just six weeks time, so it's not a long offseason at all."