In the dark days of pre-season testing - when Red Bull could barely turn a wheel without encountering a technical problem - it seemed unlikely that the reigning world champions would finish as high as second in the constructors' standings, and yet they've done just that.
In this exclusive interview, team principal Christian Horner reflects on the team's impressive turnaround, as well as discussing the emergence of Daniel Ricciardo, the impending departure of Sebastian Vettel, and more...
Q: Christian, in Austin Red Bull's chances of a fifth successive drivers' title were officially ended. Realistically, how much hope was there that you could make the impossible happen?
Christian Horner: In reality no hope. Mathematically there was the chance. The fact that we kept Daniel (Ricciardo) in the championship race until three races to go, that was an achievement in itself considering the dominance of Mercedes. It was always clear from pre-season testing that Lewis (Hamilton) and Nico (Rosberg) would be the main title protagonists.
Q: How easy is it to let go after eight titles in four years?
CH: We've had a little bit of time to acclimatise to that - and look at it in another way: compared to where we started the year - and as handicapped as we've been - it's one of the team's biggest achievements in terms of recovery and fight back.

Q: Right now Red Bull Racing is a team in transition - Sebastian (Vettel) is going and Daniel will be the new leader, teamed with a young driver (Daniil Kvyat) in just his second season. Plus Adrian Newey will no longer be at the races

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