Christian Horner warns rivals Max Verstappen is getting ‘sharper and sharper’ ahead of Japanese GP and insists nobody could have ‘envisaged’ Red Bull’s success when he joined the team 18-years ago

• Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen is only continuing to get better
• The reigning world champion is closing in on a third consecutive world title
• Red Bull chief Horner admits he never predicted Red Bull’s success 

Christian Horner has warned Red Bull’s rivals that championship leader Max Verstappen is getting ‘sharper and sharper’ ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix as he closes in on a third consecutive world title.

The Dutch superstar can’t secure the championship but can take a huge step towards doing so and was in impressive form during opening practice sessions as all signs point towards another expected GP win.

Verstappen heads into Sunday’s Suzuka showdown with a huge 151-point lead over team-mate Sergio Perez despite having seen his record 10-race winning run ended in Singapore last time out.

Red Bull chief Horner lauded the 25-year-old and labelled Verstappen as ‘phenomenal’: ‘He just gets sharper and sharper.

‘The raw speed and ability has been there from day one and that hunger and passion that he drives with.

Red Bull chief Christian Horner (right) has warned rivals that Max Verstappen (left) is only getting ‘sharper’

Verstappen was the quickest in opening practice sessions ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix

‘But now he couples that with experience and the way he reads a race, manages tyres, reads a situation is phenomenal. He pushes the team, we push him and we both go to new levels,’ he added.

Horner joined Red Bull in 2005 and admits he could never have envisaged the success Red Bull would enjoy when he joined the team.

The energy drinks company took over the struggling Jaguar Formula One team after the 2004 season and created Red Bull Racing, founded by the late Dietrich Mateschitz, with Horner being appointed as team principal.

Red Bull are likely to clinch their sixth Constructors’ Championship this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix – the home race of engine supplier Honda – after enjoying a dominant season in which they have won 14 of 15 races, only being beaten for the first time in Singapore last week.

Horner has overseen two periods of success in his time with the team, with Sebastian Vettel winning four successive drivers’ titles between 2010 and 2013 and Max Verstappen closing in on a hat-trick of championships.

The 49-year-old expressed his pride at the achievements of the team and says they have never operated at a higher level than this season.

‘When I first came in it was clear that Dietrich (Mateschitz) had come into Formula One because he wanted to compete,’ Horner said at Suzuka.

‘He had bought what was the Jaguar F1 team which had been a perennial sort of seventh-placed finisher. It is about then constructing a team and I don’t think any of us could have envisaged what was ahead of us.

Verstappen leads the world championship and can go one step closer to a third consecutive title

Horner (left) has overseen two periods of success since joining the team in 2005

‘Within 19 seasons to have achieved what we have has been a phenomenal journey so far.

‘No (we have never performed at this level before). We have had some great seasons but I think what we have achieved up to Singapore, 14 straight wins across all the different venues we have been to has been an outstanding performance.

‘Everybody at the team is incredibly proud of what we have achieved; 14 straights wins this season, 15 if you include Abu Dhabi last year, up to last weekend we had only been beaten at one race in the last 12 months, Max taking 10 wins in a row beating Seb’s record from 2013, six one-two finishes so far.

‘It has been a hell of a season for us.

‘I think it is the spirit, the culture, the passion and the commitment of the whole team and the way that we work as a team. That is the biggest standout element for me.’

Horner is keen to keep focus on success moving forward and the next big test of the Red Bull team as they prepare to partner with Ford to develop their own engines for 2026 onwards.

Horner hailed Red Bull team members for producing another ‘hell of a season’

Verstappen is seeking to bounce-back from a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Singapore GP last time out

‘It is never about looking back, it is about looking forward and I think that for us if we can close out these championships in the coming races that is a huge statistic that everybody can be really proud of,’ Horner added.

‘It then becomes about looking at next year and the year after and the next chapter for Red Bull is the relationship with Ford for 2026 and producing our own power train.

‘Going from zero as a start-up company effectively and building a facility, that is the next challenge but it has been quite a journey and hopefully a few more chapters to go.

‘For us, starting from scratch is our biggest risk and it is our biggest opportunity. It is going to be an interesting journey and I’m sure all the manufacturers are working incredibly hard.’

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