Mercedes won eight world titles in a row from 2014 to 2021, stealing a step ahead of their competitors in the turbo-hybrid era.
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Christian Horner has revealed that the 2021 season was ‘tough’ at times, as his Red Bull squad battled Mercedes on and off the track in a tense season. Mercedes won eight world titles in a row from 2014 to 2021, stealing a step ahead of their competitors in the turbo-hybrid era, but Honda-powered Red Bull was able to make a sustained assault in 2021. Following rule changes between seasons, the RB16B and W12 were nearly identical on the track, with Red Bull claiming ten pole positions and nine victories to Mercedes’ nine.
There were several of off-track issues, including questions over both teams’ rear wings, several trips to the stewards, and angry press conferences, while Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battled in several races. After a contentious battle in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship, while Mercedes retained the Constructors’ Championship.
“It’s been intensely competitive on-track and off-track,” Horner said during a media interaction.
“We’ve started a Powertrains business as well in the UK, and we’ve had an awful lot of talent join from Mercedes. There’s been an awful lot of lobbying, particularly earlier in the year, even initially about the regulations, and the legality of the regulations coming into the year. [There’s] an awful lot of stuff that you guys [the media] won’t even be aware of – it’s been intense; it’s been tough.”
Horner praised Red Bull and outgoing engine partner Honda for their work in transitioning from infrequent race winners in 2020 to championship contenders in 2021, with one of the two crowns on offer.
“I think I’ve learned that anything’s possible,” the Red Bull boss said. “If you’d have said that the end of [2020] that you’ll be in Abu Dhabi, 22 races in, equal on points in the Drivers’, still in the Constructors’ Championship, albeit with a long shot, after Mercedes dominated the 2020 season with arguably their most dominant car, I don’t think anybody would have believed you.”
“I think we’d have bitten your arm off to be in that position, so I think it demonstrates that if you believe in something, and you have the right group of people around you, and you push to the maximum, you can achieve great things. I think [with] Honda we have a lot to be grateful for. We will be sorry to say goodbye to them; they played a key role this year. You’re always learning in life, but I think that it’s been a phenomenal year for the team and all our partners and drivers,” he added.
