Noisy neighbours Red Bull give Horner back-to-back F1 titles

To celebrate the winning of back-to-back Formula 1 constructors’ championships, Horner yesterday stepped onto the podium following the Korean Grand Prix alongside his drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Just seven days after Vettel became the youngest back-to-back and two-time drivers’ title holder, the 24-year-old German and Webber duly delivered the team crown.

Vettel took the chequered flag for the 10th time this season, and is now just three shy of equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of 13, while Webber had to settle for third after a stunning battle with runner-up Lewis Hamilton.

The 40 points gleaned means Red Bull are now 140 clear of McLaren, with just 129 available, guaranteeing it was party time for the “drinks manufacturer”, as they were infamously described by Hamilton earlier this year, for the second successive Sunday.

The result was also the perfect riposte to the double DNF the team endured at this race a year ago when Webber crashed out and Vettel suffered an engine failure.

“That made up for last year, didn’t it?” said Horner, with a broad smile and his shirt soaked with victory champagne.

“That was the most depressing race of our entire season last year.

“So to win this year, for Mark to drive such a strong race as well, and to secure our second constructors’ championship, it’s been a very special week for the team.

“First of all, Sebastian retaining the drivers’ in Japan, and then a week later achieving what we have here in Korea is phenomenal.

“The whole team should be very proud of what they have managed to achieve.”

Reminded that in only the team’s seventh season in the sport they have now achieved the rare feat of the ‘double double’, Horner had to take stock and reflect.

He added: “I’m very proud to lead the team, and it’s a very special day also for Mr Mateschitz (team owner Dietrich).

“He had the vision seven years ago to buy what was then Jaguar and he should feel very proud of what his team have achieved.

“The great thing about this team and what sets it apart from others is the ambition, desire and the way it works as a unit.

“You only have to look late in the pitlane on a Friday evening. Yes they play the music loud, but they’re here, work longer and tougher hours and against tight deadlines.

“It’s that kind of atmosphere and spirit that has epitomised the kind of results we have achieved this year.”

And as for Hamilton’s remark, Horner gave it short shrift, adding: “Well, for a drinks manufacturer to win two constructors’ and two drivers’ world championships, it’s not too bad is it?”

For Vettel, who grabbed the lead off poleman Hamilton before the fourth corner on lap one and never looked back, yesterday’s triumph was simply the icing on the cake to what has been an extraordinary season.

“In terms of preparation for this race it wasn’t ideal as I think most of us were a bit tipsy after the one in Japan,” said Vettel.

“We clearly deserved it, so to come here and win the constructors’ championship is fantastic.

“We have so many people off track, especially in Milton Keynes, in the factory, working day-in, day-out, every day of the week, every month of the year, trying to build two very competitive race cars. It’s not just one person or one area where things need to come together, it’s everything. Even the kitchen staff matter.

“For the drivers the most important championship is our one, but for the team it’s the constructors’, to know where they sit with the other teams.

“So to win back-to-back is outstanding. The guys are surely very happy and I think there will be a little bit of a bonus for them.”

Webber, despite being winless this year, has played his part and he said: “For the team to get the constructors’ is an incredible effort – back-to-back is phenomenal. It’s been a great year.”

Jenson Button finished off the podium for the first time in six races by taking fourth, with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa fifth and sixth for Ferrari.

For the fourth time in the last six races, Paul di Resta finished in the points for Force India, taking 10th.

Vitaly Petrov has apologised to Michael Schumacher for wrecking the seven-time world champion’s Korean Grand Prix. Petrov has been given a five-place grid penalty for the next race in India after wiping out the back end of Schumacher’s Mercedes on lap 17.

With Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso attacking to his left, the Russian took his eye off the ball under braking into the sharp right-hander at turn three and ran into the back of 42-year-old Schumacher.

The 27-year-old has held his hands up as he said: “I tried to defend my position from Fernando. But I was in the braking zone on the dirty side of the track which meant I locked my wheels and hit Michael.”

Timo Glock and Jerome D’Ambrosio came home 18th and 20th respectively for Yorkshire-based Marussia Virgin Racing, leaving team principal John Booth to say: “It was a positive race on both sides of the garage today, to slightly varying degrees.

“Timo drove a hard race all the way to the end and we were managing the gap to Daniel Ricciardo behind him.

“With Jerome it is disappointing that we finished behind the HRT, however we must take the positive that the performance far exceeded that in qualifying.

“On the back of a disappointing weekend last week, everyone in the team stepped up their game for this weekend. The strategy was improved, the pitstops were slick and all this has been born out of a great deal of introspection and redoubling of effort for the last few races.”

Matt Neal was crowned 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car champion after a thrilling final round of the British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone.

The title was decided in the third and final race of the day in a showdown between Honda Racing team-mates Neal and Gordon Shedden.