Against all the odds, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff stopped for a photograph together last weekend, following the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Horner and Wolff smiling in a photograph together is something which many would only expect to see in their dreams; however, it actually did happen!
The iconic duo put their rivalry aside for a brief moment, to embrace after what’s been a very long campaign for both teams.
Of course, it’s been a significantly better season for Red Bull, who won every single race except the Singapore Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen was responsible for 19 of the team’s 21 victories, as he picked up a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
The three-time World Champion was in a league of his own all year and shattered countless records.
He was so dominant, that Red Bull would’ve still won the Constructors’ Championship even if Sergio Perez’s points didn’t count.
Whilst Verstappen has been exceptional, the RB19 can’t be forgotten.
Red Bull’s 2023 car will go down as one of the greatest in Formula 1 history, with Horner admitting that it’s a car for the “history books”.
“This car is going to go down in this history books as a very special car,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.
“To have won 21 out of 22, just missing out on Singapore – which leaves room for improvement!
“What a year, more than anything all the men and women behind the scenes, back in the factory, across the whole business, from the catering staff to the van drivers, to the receptionists, to the designers, to the manufacturing.”
Even Wolff was on hand to congratulate Red Bull on their “exceptional season” and pointed out that they destroyed a “lot of records”.
“An exceptional season, they have beaten a lot of records, testimony to a great driver and the engineering team that is Red Bull. Top-notch,” Wolff said.
2023 wasn’t a great year for Mercedes despite the fact they beat Ferrari to second in the standings, by a marginal three points.
The Silver Arrows failed to claim a race win in 2023, marking their first winless season since 2011.
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To try and overcome their struggles this year, the Germans will introduce a new concept next year in a bird to “reach for the stars”.
Wolff told the team’s fans to “keep believing in us” and urged them to have faith.
“To all of you guys at home and the fans we have, keep believing in us, keep pushing,” Wolff continued. “It’s vice-world champions to take home, we have to reach for the stars and that’s going to happen, I promise.”