“I Gathered the Boys and…” Christian Horner Gives an Insight Into the Pep Talk Before the 2021 Abu Dhabi Triumph

The finale for the 2021 season was a controversial affair. In a season where things went as close as they could, the drivers’ championship was decided in the final lap of the final race. That race will forever be etched in the minds of the fans and people involved alike. Christian Horner, the man on the winning side of the drama, recently revealed how he and his team prepared for the final showdown.

The 2021 season left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Mercedes team. Even to this day, team principal Toto Wolff does not enjoy talking about what ensued on that fateful night in Abu Dhabi.

Christian Horner’s pep talk to the Red Bull team

Max Verstappen won his first World Drivers’ Championship (WDC) title in 2021. The title marked the end of Lewis Hamilton’s era of dominance, i.e. a 4 WDC winning streak. Hamilton was looking to go ahead of Michael Schumacher and become the only driver ever to win the WDC title 8 times. But how did things go in the Red Bull camp before the race started?

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner recently appeared on the podcast The Diary of a CEO. In the episode, Horner revealed the pep talk he gave to the team.

He told, “I remember before the race in Abu Dhabi I gathered the boys together and said, ‘ Whatever happens, all we can do is do our best.’ We’ve made it to this point, so enjoy this experience. Whatever the outcome, we don’t know, but give it your all and enjoy. In the end, it worked out well.'”[Translated using Google.]

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Horner admitted to trying to be an inspiration for his employees and revealed his style of management. He said that a leader’s personality permeates the team and if he is tense, it is not healthy to lead with fear. He also told why being open to everyone’s opinion and having an inclusive environment is important.

Christian Horner praises the Red Bull technical team for their success in 2022

Red Bull has not won the constructors’ championship since 2013. This year finally looks like they will break the curse. Max Verstappen has bagged the WDC title already, while the constructors’ title remains a formality given the form they are in.

Christian Horner recently praised the team’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey and his team for putting together a phenomenal car in a year when every other team is still struggling.

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Finally, it looks like Red Bull has tamed the ghost of the hybrid era.