Horner still in contact with Verstappen after leaving Red Bull Racing

The project to develop an in-house engine for Red Bull began in 2021, when Horner was still team principal. After the Briton was dismissed from the team in July last year, he did not get to see his "own engine" win.

So it was particularly painful for Horner when Verstappen won with the in-house engine for the first time. "Nobody can take my 124 wins and 14 championships away from me. But it hurt me enormously, and it felt as though I had been deprived of the chance to see that power unit developed by Red Bull win."

The victory in Malaysia made Horner proud, even though he is no longer involved with the team. "I was incredibly proud when I saw how much it meant to everyone and that they sent a representative from Powertrains to the podium."

Horner was also in touch with Verstappen after the race. "I received messages from people across the team, and I sent Max a message after the race. He responded in a very sporting and generous manner. It was a historic moment to see that engine win. It confirmed for me that anything is possible when you bring the right people together, with the right company culture and the necessary resources."

Horner also praised Red Bull. “Red Bull was always the maverick team that pushed the boundaries. Only Red Bull would do something as crazy as building a new engine within a subsidiary of a soft-drink company. The motto was to be different and shake up the established order. These days, things are a little different.”

Horner was dismissed by Red Bull in July last year. Jos Verstappen repeatedly criticised Horner and said Red Bull would decline if Horner remained team principal. Nevertheless, Horner wants to refute the suggestion that Max's father was behind his dismissal from Red Bull. “No, it was a decision made by Red Bull. A lot changed within the leadership after Dietrich's death.”