Horner praises 'impeccable' McLaren after title glory

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has praised McLaren for its "impeccable" season, which resulted in the British outfit securing the F1 constructors' title. 

Whilst Red Bull claimed the most race wins across the season, it was McLaren who consistently scored big points to win a first constructors' crown since 1998. 

Max Verstappen often fought for Red Bull on his own, whilst McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claimed 21 podiums between them. 

Red Bull managed 18 podiums across the season, only four as a result of the underperforming Sergio Perez. 

Ultimately, Red Bull could only salvage third in the standings and were 77 points adrift of McLaren. The Milton Keynes-based team did try to defend its title, with Verstappen having often battled Norris.

The pair collided on multiple occasions, most notably in Mexico City where Verstappen was on the receiving end of two 10-second time penalties. 

A round prior, Norris was on the receiving end of a five-second time penalty, for gaining an advantage on the four-time world champion off the circuit.

The Abu Dhabi season finale was another race featuring contact between Verstappen and a McLaren, although it was with Piastri at the first corner on that occasion – a 10-second time penalty for the Dutchman was the outcome. 

Both teams pushed to the limit, with Horner recognising that Red Bull's rivals did an excellent job.

"I mean, you've got to salute what McLaren have done this year," Horner said at the FIA prize-giving ceremony. "They've done a very, very good job. 

"They've had a good car, they've had two great drivers, and they've had an awesome year. 

"To win a constructors' world championship is something that is very, very tough to do, and you've got to be impeccable across the year and this year there was some fierce competition. 

"You have to congratulate McLaren on the year that they've had this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing what tattoo Zak [Brown] is going to emblazon on himself for a constructors' world championship."