Horner has sympathy for Mercedes: "We went through that pain"

Christian Horner has sympathy for Mercedes and looks back to 2013 and 2014 when Red Bull's era of dominance came to an end. Horner understands the pain that his rivals are going through now as they leave Abu Dhabi without a championship for the first time since 2014. 

Red Bull Racing aced the rule and regulation changes at the start of the 2022 season and continued a strong development path through the year. Meanwhile, the Mercedes package didn't work and spent most of the year solving porpoising. Horner looks back to the painful times and explains how that motivated the team. 

"We went through that pain after a dominant 2013, and with the change of regs in 2014 we were nowhere but we never lost belief and people's heads dropped. A lot of people are with us from 2013 and there are a few people that have joined since then.  Everyone has focused on that goal of winning the championship. We did it last year and we've gone a step further to win the constructors and it's a testament to all the hard work after 8 long years," Horner told Sky Sports when answering a question about the performance of Mercedes. 

Championship dedication

The Formula 1 teams and drivers now head into a 100-day hibernation period before going to Bahrain for the first Grand Prix of 2023. Horner looks forward to the break, whilst also dedicating the championship to Dietrich Mateschitz. 

"I think last year took every ounce out of energy from everyone in the team and I don't think anyone of us in the team to have experienced before, and this year there has been highs and lows and issues to deal with. The biggest issue was the loss of our founder Dietrich. Formula 1 was his love and he gave so many drivers a chance and us all a chance. To have won this constructors championship, we dedicate it to him for what he has done for us," Horner added.