At the 2023 Autosport Awards, Christian Horner, the manager of the Red Bull team, became the most recent recipient of the John Bolster Award for technical excellence.
This medal, which is given in memory of the late technical editor of Autosport, honors an individual or group for a lifetime of exceptional technical work in racing. Roger Penske, Ross Brawn, Sir Patrick Head, Adrian Newey, and Toto Wolff are among the previous champions.
After a successful stint in Formula 3000 with his Arden team, Horner joined the then-new Red Bull F1 club as team principal in 2005. Red Bull has won 113 Grand Prix races, seven drivers’ championships, and six constructors’ crowns since that time.
On December 3, Horner was given his award at the Autosport Awards at Grosvenor House on Park Lane by Gary Fegel, the founder of GMF Capital.
“My wife has played a key role, and all partners do, with 22 races,” Horner stated. “The latter portion of the year has proven to be especially difficult. It’s amazing what the squad has accomplished with 21 victories in 22 races.
“It’s been a difficult season, and some amazing things have happened this year.
“I’d like to congratulate Gianpiero Lambiase this year on what he has achieved with Max [Verstappen], putting up with grumpy Max on occasion.”
Thanks to three-time world champion Max Verstappen, Red Bull also won the Pirelli-sponsored International Racing Driver of the Year award and the International Competition Car of the Year title with the RB19, which won 21 of the 22 GPs in 2023. Readers of Autosport voted for both.
Rally Driver of the Year, National Driver of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and British Competition Driver of the Year are among the other categories determined by fan vote.
The Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award, the Autosport Gold Medal with the Gregor Grant Award for lifetime legacy, the Pioneering and Innovation Award, Moment of the Year, and Promoter of the Year are among the other honors that were chosen by knowledgeable judging panels. Brand Partnership of the Year Award was a new award for 2023.
