Christian Horner struggled to contain his emotions after watching his Red Bull team seal the 2022 Formula 1 constructors' championship.
It marks the first time the team has lifted that trophy since 2013. But much of that emotion will also stem from the loss of Red Bull founder and owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died on the eve of the United States Grand Prix after a long illness.
They were hoping to win the race not only to seal their title but also to pay tribute to their late leader. Lewis Hamilton came close to spoiling the party with a brilliant drive, but in the end Max Verstappen was able to find the pace he needed to take the chequered flag.
As the national anthems were played while Verstappen and Red Bull received their trophies, Horner was seen close to tears as he watched on from below. And, speaking to Sky Sports shortly after, he dedicated his team's success to Mateschitz.
"It's been a hugely emotional weekend, and that was the best possible way we could have won that race," he said. "Dietrich would have been proud of that one. We had to fight back after having a problem with the front wheel gun. [Max] got his head down. I thought there was only going to be one outcome from that race and to win the constructors after eight long years is incredible."
On that slow pit stop which threatened to thwart Verstappen, he added: "It's a team and everybody has to play their part in the team. Unfortunately, there will be bad days sometimes. There was an issue with the gun itself – then Max just made his way through.
"There is a hunger within him that I have not seen in any other driver, and determination. As he is growing and maturing as a driver, he is beginning to read races well. He was pretty upset after the pit stop but very quickly got his emotions in check. He just got his head down and paced himself so he didn't burn out his tyres."
Reacting to the race himself, Verstappen added: "It was a tough one. It was all looking good but then the pit stop was a bit longer than we would have liked, so I had to fight my way forward again. We gave it everything out there today, and of course it's a very difficult weekend for us, so this one is definitely dedicated to Dietrich.
"We had a big chance to win the constructors' here, and you want to do that in style, and I think we did that today. This is a great track for battling. If you pass in one corner, you can come back in the next, and it's really enjoyable to drive here."
