Verstappen's 2024 title his ‘best and hardest championship’

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was full of praise for the now four-time world champion Max Verstappen, dubbing 2024 the Dutchman's "best and hardest" campaign while noting his achievement "puts him amongst the all-time greats."

Verstappen sealed his fourth title in a row courtesy of his P5 result in Las Vegas, the Red Bull man finishing ahead of rival Lando Norris to take the crown with two race weekends left to go.

The foundation of this latest world title was Verstappen’s form in the early part of the season when he won four of the first five races, and seven of the first 10 – but equally important was the manner in which he kept maximising his results on days where victory was out of reach.

Horner has been there for all four of Verstappen's titles, overseeing his transition from teenage sensation to race winner to world champion, and had nothing but praise for his charge and his ability to maximise what was on offer.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: 2024 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands — Horner was left impressed by 'phenomenal' Verstappen in Las Vegas

“It’s been a rollercoaster of a year and Max has been truly outstanding,” Horner told Sky Sports F1. “We got off to a flying start, we had a very difficult summer, but he just kept nailing the results.

“He’s won eight Grands Prix, that’s more than double any other driver. He’s just been outstanding.

“I think this has been his best and hardest championship and he’s shown maturity, he’s delivered on the days when the car wasn’t quite there and there’s no one more deserving of this championship than Max.”

Verstappen’s fourth title didn’t go down to the wire like his first one in 2021, but it was arguably his hardest in the respect of not always having the best, or even second-best car. Yet the Red Bull driver never finished outside the top six, bar his one mechanical-based retirement in Australia, showing his remarkable consistency considering how equally the top four teams have often been matched.

“He has an insane amount of natural talent and ability, he has more hunger than I’ve ever seen in any driver,” Horner continued. “The dedication, the application, the self-belief, that combination has created one of the most phenomenal drivers that I’ve ever seen.

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Max Verstappen clinches title number four under the Las Vegas lights

“When we [won four titles], the first time with Seb [Vettel], I thought we’d never repeat that. Then the win in ’21 – that was massive. And then to be standing here with Max on four in a row as well and joining a very elite group of champions now. It puts him amongst the all-time greats.”

Given the struggles the Milton Keynes squad have had at various parts of the year, notably in Monza and Baku, where Verstappen dubbed his car "uncontrollable", Horner was also keen to emphasise how much of an inspiration that now four-time champion has been to the team around him.

"Just the way he’s driven this year, when he gets in the car he gives 110% and he’s done that weekend after weekend," he said.

"And of course, he’s had a great team of men and women behind him but he’s led that inspiration from the cockpit, especially on the tough days."