Horner: Red Bull 'humbled' by Singapore failure that prevented clean sweep

Red Bull was left "humbled" by defeat in Singapore that ultimately prevented it from becoming the first-ever Formula 1 team to complete a clean sweep of race wins, reckons Christian Horner.

The Milton Keynes-based squad racked up 21 of 22 race wins in 2023, with George Russell even predicting after the first race in Bahrain that Red Bull would win every Grand Prix.

The only blot on the copybook came in Singapore when set-up trouble with the RB19 handed Ferrari and Carlos Sainz the win as Max Verstappen could only finish fifth.

Either side of that, Verstappen won 17 of 18 races and 19 of the 22 across the season in what was the most crushing season by a driver in the history of Grand Prix racing.

However, the goal of becoming the first-ever team to record a 100% strike rate in Grand Prix wins in a season alluded Red Bull, with boss Horner believing the failure still leaves something to aim for.

Horner reflects on Singapore

"It leaves you humbled," Horner told media including RacingNews365.

"That is there still is something to strive for, and it is a useful lesson that things can change quickly.

"Singapore was a standout weekend, and you guys have been asking me since about race three if we can win all the races this year.

"To win 21 out of 22 is insanity. For Max to have led over 1,000 laps, for him to have won 19 races, to break McLaren's record from 1988, to break our own record with Sebastian [Vettel for consecutive wins], the win ratios, all the percentages that have been hit, this car will down in history, for a considerable period as the most successful car in Formula 1 history."

Horner also predicted that there would be no let-off from Verstappen as he chases a fourth title in 2024.

"He'll be exactly the same, he hasn't changed in the last four or five years," Horner added.

"He is a racer, he wants to race, he wants to win, is at one with the car and he's got so much natural ability and self-confidence and faith in his own ability.

"He'll be looking to continue this train and it is up to us to give him the tools to be able to do that, and hopefully we can take some of the lessons from this car and apply it to the RB20."