Christian Horner has praised Max Verstappen's attitude during Red Bull's recent struggles, but he is confident the team can make a comeback in the final eight races.
Verstappen saw his lead cut at the top of the drivers' championship to 62 points by McLaren's Lando Norris in Monza, with Charles Leclerc also closing the gap.
The Dutchman has now gone five Grand Prix's without a pole position, his worst streak since the sixth race of the 2021 season (five).
He has also failed to emerge victorious in his last six Grand Prix's, with the last time he stood on the top step being at Barcelona in June.
“What’s really impressed me with Max is how he’s really engaged in this process,” said Horner.
“He’s not panicking, he’s working with the engineers, he’s explaining very clearly where the issues are, he’s putting the time and effort in.
“He was in early this morning, he was on Zoom calls last week, he’ll be on the simulator before the next race, and he’s really working hard at this.
"I think he’s shown great maturity as a world champion, the way he’s working with the engineering group.
“Nobody likes the situation we’re in at the moment, nobody’s happy with it and we’ve got to work really hard to turn it around.
"But the one thing this team has is strength and depth in talent, and we’ll come back.”
Red Bull's struggles have also seen their advantage at the top of the constructors' standings evaporate, and are now only eight points clear of McLaren, with Ferrari 39 points off the pace.
But a return to action next weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix offers the team a chance to bridge the gap to those below them.
Only one driver has achieved more than one victory on the streets of Baku, with that man being Verstappen's team-mate, Sergio Perez, who won in 2021 and 2023.
The Mexican has scored the most points on the circuit (100), with only a Lewis Hamilton victory and fastest lap being enough to overtake the Red Bull driver (75).
But Perez has now gone 10 consecutive Grands Prix without finishing in the top five of the standings, the same number of times as in his previous 41 races in Formula 1.
However, Horner is optimistic that solutions can be put in place prior to the upcoming double header of Azerbaijan and Singapore.
“The most important thing is understanding the issue, and I think there are certain fixes that potentially can be introduced, perhaps not the resolve the whole issue but address some of it,” Horner said.
“I think we have a two-week period before Baku and Singapore and then we have another mini-break where we can work in-between Singapore and Austin, so this time now is crucial.”
McLaren chief Brown hails 'flawless' Norris after title-clinching Abu Dhabi triumph
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown lauded Lando Norris' "flawless" drive at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris led from pole on Sunday, and his won ensured McLaren triumphed in the Formula One Constructors' Championship for the first time since 1998.
McLaren needed Norris to keep his cool under pressure from Carlos Sainz, who finished second in his final race for Ferrari.
Sainz's team-mate Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, charged up from 19th to finish third, while Norris' fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri did well to finish in the points following a collision with Max Verstappen on the first corner.
Yet Norris' win was enough to see McLaren finish 14 points clear of Ferrari in the final standings.
"That was the worst two hours of my life, by far," Brown told Sky Sports.
"Lando drove brilliantly. Unfortunate what happened to Oscar at the start, but the team was flawless. They executed the pit stop great. I think I was the only one who was ready to have a heart attack for about two hours.
"That race, [Lando] carried us. To not make any mistakes, and we were worried about safety cars, I was worried about everything, and he drove flawlessly.
"So next, try to repeat the constructors' and get the drivers'. I'll let Oscar and Lando figure that one out."
Norris, who finished second in the driver standings behind Verstappen, declared on the team's radio that next season would be his year, and Brown sees no reason why the Briton cannot clinch the title in 2025.
"He's going to give it all he's got, and given the momentum he's on, I wouldn't bet against him," said Brown.
Speaking at the post-race presentation, Norris said: "It feels incredible. Not for myself but for the whole team. They have done an amazing job from where we were at the beginning.
"I'm so proud of everyone. It's been a lovely journey. To end the season like this is perfect.
"For us to win the Constructors' Championship after 26 years is pretty special. We are going to celebrate. This is a historic moment for the team. It's going to be a good night!"
Piastri, who like Norris was not even born when McLaren last won the Constructors' Championship, also had to deal with a time penalty after he clipped Franco Colapinto in a chaotic opening to the race.
The Australian drove brilliantly to finish in the top 10, though, and revealed that Verstappen subsequently apologised for the early collision that threatened to derail McLaren's hopes.
"It was a pretty miserable race but the biggest thing today was we clinched the championship," he said.
"It's a massive credit to everyone at McLaren for what they have achieved this year. Couldn't be prouder of them all.
"Very, very happy with the year's work. Nice to seal the deal.
"[Verstappen] came and apologised straight away and the stewards deemed it was a penalty.
"We go again next year. Obviously it was a tough race from then on, but again, we achieved our main target and that's what matters."
Norris victory seals Constructors' Championship for McLaren
Lando Norris won from pole at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to ensure McLaren won the Formula One Constructors' Championship.
McLaren knew a victory on Sunday would ensure their first title since 1998, and despite a dramatic start, Norris ultimately got the job done as he led through the entire 58 laps.
Norris held off the Ferrari's of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, with the latter charging up from 19th to claim a podium finish.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, capped off his Mercedes career - before he replaces Sainz at Ferrari - in style, flying up from 16th to finish fourth, ahead of his team-mate George Russell, who gave way to the seven-time world champion on the final lap.
A chaotic first corner caused plenty of concern for McLaren, as Oscar Piastri was clipped by four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Piastri spun off the track and returned with plenty of ground to make up on the rest of the field, and matters were made even more complicated for the Australian when he received a penalty for colliding with Franco Colapinto.
Verstappen was penalised too, for causing that early clash with Piastri.
It was a poor day for Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez, who was potentially making his final appearance for Red Bull.
He bowed out after less than one lap, after a collision with Valtteri Bottas, who himself was forced to retire later on, potentially bringing the curtain down on his F1 career, with the Finn expected to be a reserve driver next season at Mercedes.
Yet despite the drama behind him, and the brilliant drive from Leclerc that applied even more pressure, Norris kept his cool at the front, never offering an opportunity to Sainz, who occupied second throughout.
"You all deserve this. Thank you so much. It's been a special year. Next year is going to be my year too," said Norris over the team radio after he crossed the finish line, with McLaren winning the title by 14 points.
Data Debrief: McLaren make their mark
Norris and Piastri were not even born when McLaren last won a team title, while the 26 years since that last victory is the longest such gap in F1 history. It is the first time since 2009 that a team other than Mercedes or Red Bull have won the championship.
Hamilton, meanwhile, drew the curtain down on his spectacular Mercedes career with one last hurrah.
During his time with the team, he set the records for the most wins (105), most pole positions (104) and podium finishes (202). However, he did finish a season outside of the top six for the first time in his career.
It was a great effort from Ferrari, who were always up against it this weekend, especially after Leclerc was handed a 10-place penalty for a battery change. He at least charged back to finish on the podium for the 13th time in 2024.
Top 10
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers'
1. Max Verstappen - 437 (C)
2. Lando Norris - 374
3. Charles Leclerc - 356
Constructors'
1. McLaren - 666
2. Ferrari - 652
3. Red Bull - 589
Wolff apologises as 'idiotic' mistakes cost Hamilton on Mercedes farewell
Toto Wolff has apologised to Lewis Hamilton after "idiotic" mistakes led to the seven-time world champion qualifying in 16th for his final grand prix with Mercedes.
Hamilton, who will join Ferrari when his glittering spell with the Silver Arrows comes to an end after Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, endured a nightmare qualifying session on Saturday.
He ran as one of the five quickest drivers in practice, only to crash out in Q1 for the third time in his last six races.
Wolff was livid after the conclusion of qualifying, in which Hamilton placed 18th but gained two places due to penalties for Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon.
The Mercedes team principal was infuriated by Hamilton being sent back onto the track too late at the end of the session, causing him to be held up by other cars before he had the misfortune of running over a dislodged bollard on his final lap.
"I just need to apologise to Lewis and also everyone in the team that worked so hard in making it a great end for him," the Mercedes team principal told Sky Sports F1.
"He was the quicker guy with that set-up we chose on the car to also experiment for next year and we totally let him down.
"An idiotic mistake of not going earlier. Inexcusable, inexcusable.
"I have rarely been so down about what has happened. Maybe it summarises the last races we have had with him, but this is the worst part of it because it was just idiotic."
Lando Norris will start on pole with team-mate Oscar Piastri starting second, as McLaren battle Ferrari for the constructors' championship title.
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