Red Bull chief Christian Horner congratulates Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on championship win

Hamilton came through a first-lap collision with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to claim a ninth-place finish, enough to secure him the Drivers’ Championship and thus his fourth world title.

The 32-year-old now overtakes Sir Jackie Stewart as Britain’ most successful driver.

Horner was impressed and told Sky Sports: “Congrats to Lewis. We know how hard it is to have four world titles and the most successful British driver.”

But Horner also had reason to celebrate as it was his team’s driver, Max Verstappen, who claimed victory at the Mexican Grand Prix in a blistering drive from start to finish.

“We couldn’t slow him down! From the start onwards he dominated the grand prix. He controlled the temperatures really well,” the Red Bull team principle added.

“The last four races we have had the best car on the Sunday. That is testimony to all of the guys in Milton Keynes who put in the long hours.

“It is a great way to be finishing the season. I would prefer to have had two cars finishing but it is a great day for Max.”

The winner himself also spoke of his delight with the finish and credits the slick manoeuvre he pulled on Sebastian Vettel at the first turn. 

“I was confident the car was going to be good because looking at the long run pace it was very easy for us to do quick lap times. We just needed the balance to be correct,” Verstappen told Sky Sports.

“The start itself was not great because I was high on the limiter but it turned out to be perfect because I had a good tow on Sebastian and went around the outside at Turn One.

“This was one of the easiest races of my career.

“I felt I missed out yesterday so I felt I had to make it right today.

The 20-year-old missed out on the podium in the previous race due to a five-second penalty but was able to joke about it after there were no doubts over his victory in Mexico.

“I was so far in front I thought ‘let’s cut the corner and get a five-second penalty to make it a bit more interesting’. It was a good race and after last week this was a great result.

“We are in a good way and we need to make sure we keep working this way and that we have a better start to the season next year because then I think we can achieve great things.”