ABU DHABI — Christian Horner believes his Pink Bull staff has hit its zenith after profitable 21 of this yr’s 22 races, saying that he totally expects rival groups to shut the hole subsequent yr.

Pink Bull’s success this yr has been rooted in its superior interpretation of technical rules launched in the beginning of 2022, resulting in essentially the most dominant season by any staff in F1 historical past in 2023.

Underlining the extent of the staff’s success, Max Verstappen, who secured his third world championship on the Qatar Grand Prix in October, scored extra factors on his personal than the Mercedes staff managed in second place within the standings.

However Horner doubts a repeat of the 2023 season will even be potential for Pink Bull and totally expects the efficiency of rival groups to converge in direction of the champions.

“We noticed that in 2020 with Mercedes, for those who do not forget that was their most dominant yr and but we have been in a position to beat them in 2021,” Horner mentioned.

“There was a delicate rule change [that year], however I feel nothing stands nonetheless and we had rivals coming nearer at completely different venues [this year] and I am positive ideas will converge, secure rules at all times concertina, so I do not suppose we are going to ever be capable of repeat the season we have had.

“Hopefully we will take the teachings from RB19 and apply them into RB20 and provide you with a automotive that we will defend these titles with.”

Pink Bull solely missed out on one victory this yr when the staff struggled to search out the proper setup for the calls for of the Singapore avenue circuit.

No staff has ever gained each race in a season — McLaren beforehand got here closest in 1988 with 15 wins from 16 – and when Horner was requested if the only missed consequence aggravated him, he mentioned: “No, it leaves you humbled that there is nonetheless one thing to attempt for. It is a helpful lesson that issues can change shortly.

“Singapore was a standout weekend. You guys [the media] have been asking me since race three if I feel we will win all of the races this yr. To win 21 out of twenty-two races is madness.

“For Max to have led over 1000 laps, for him to have gained 19 races… we now have damaged McLaren’s report from 1988, damaged Seb’s report [of nine straight victories] with Max from 2013, the win ratios, all the odds that he is hit… this automotive will go down in historical past, definitely for a substantial time frame, as essentially the most dominant automotive in System One historical past.”