Red Bull Formula 1 Team Principal Christian Horner has received the CBE [Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire] from King Charles III at Buckingham Palace for services to motorsport.
The 51-year-old was invested at a ceremony on Wednesday, adding to the OBE he received in 2013.
The honour caps off an eventful year for Horner, which has seen much trial and tribulation, amid yet another successful season for his star driver, Max Verstappen, who took his fourth successive World Championship.
Horner has endured the loss of several key members of the Red Bull team, including Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who left the team after 19 years to join Aston Martin.
And despite the addition of the season being harder in terms of competition – largely coming from McLaren and its driver Lando Norris – Verstappen utilised all his brilliance to secure yet another Drivers’ crown, despite the team losing-out on the Constructors’ title to the Woking outfit.
Horner has been Red Bull’s Team Principal since the team’s inception in 2005, when it bought-out the Ford-operated Jaguar Racing outfit, having previously been boss and co-founder of the Arden International team, which competed in F1’s then-lead support series, Formula 3000.
Horner was previously a racing driver himself, having been a winner in the Formula Renault category before giving-up racing to pursue his off-track interests.
Having overseen the initial years as a midfield outfit, Horner helped Red Bull become a frontrunner, taking its first win in 2009, and then its first championship in 2010, with Sebastian Vettel at the wheel.
Under Horner’s leadership, the team has amassed six Constructors’ Championships, and eight Drivers’ Championships, with four won each by Vettel and Verstappen respectively.
Horner joins illustrious names honoured by royalty
Horner’s second royal order sees him join other motorsport giants who have received the title.
Prodrive Chairman and former Benetton and BAR boss David Richards – who also is President of Motorsport UK – was bestowed with the honour in 2005, with 1964 F1 champion John Surtees also receiving it in 2015.
Motorsport has often seen many of its leading figures honoured by the British Royal Family, with Lewis Hamilton, Frank Williams and Ron Dennis just some who have been Knighted for their services to the industry.
READ MORE: Dennis to receive knighthood as Horner made CBE in New Year’s Honours list
