Christian Horner cries as Geri Halliwell congratulates him on win

Christian Horner on Red Bull's success and hints at next step

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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was reduced to tears after his side won the Constructors’ Championship with Max Verstappen’s win at the US Grand Prix. The victory was dedicated to Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull co-owner and founder who passed away aged 78 on Saturday.

Horner was spotted in tears and getting a cuddle off his wife Geri Halliwell, known as Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls, after Red Bull completed a famous double by claiming the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull only needed 19 points to ensure that they could not be caught by Ferrari – and the win was likely confirmed as early as the first lap when Carlos Sainz was forced to retire following a collision with Mercedes’ George Russell.

Verstappen paid tribute to Mateschitz as he spoke after the win. “It was a tough one,” Verstappen said. “It was all looking good but then the pit stop was a bit longer than we would have liked, so I had to fight my way forward again.

“We gave it everything out there today, and of course it’s a very difficult weekend for us, so this one is definitely dedicated to Dietrich. We had a big chance to win the constructors’ here, and you want to do that in style, and I think we did that today. This is a great track for battling. If you pass in one corner, you can come back in the next, and it’s really enjoyable to drive here.”

Verstappen also mentioned Mateschitz directly after the win on his team radio. “That one was for Mateschitz,” the Dutchman said directly after beating Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling race in Texas.

F1 paid tribute to the businessman with a minute of applause prior to the race, which Horner said was a fitting tribute as he would not have wanted a minute of silence instead, and explained that the team had been playing music all day from The Rolling Stones.

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Before the race, Horner described how the feeling had been since the passing of Mateschitz. “It’s been very emotional, but there’s been an overriding pride of who he is, what he achieved and what he did for all of us,” Horner said to Sky Sports F1.

“He wouldn’t have wanted a minute’s silence, that’s for sure, and that’s why we’ve played the music loud all morning.

“He loved his racing, he was passionate, he gave so many drivers an opportunity and the best tribute we can do for him is to try to round out this constructors’ championship.”

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