Horner: 'Mercedes could follow Verstappen so closely without hurting their tyres'

"We couldn’t have done anything differently today, Lewis and Mercedes were quicker than us and able to follow Max so closely without hurting their tyres, " Christian Horner said in his employer's press release. Helmut Marko also let it be known on German-language television that he does not blame anyone from the team: "Mercedes was simply faster in race trim."

On the performance of Sergio Perez, Horner said: "Sergio did a good job to recover to fifth after qualifying eighth yesterday, making a bold move on Daniel around the outside of Turn 1, and banking solid points for the team."

After a double-header in Portugal and Spain respectively, it's now time for the teams and drivers to take a week off. But not for long, because in a weeks and a half the Formula 1 circus will take to the legendary street circuit of Monaco. It should be a track that suits the characteristics of the RB16B. "It’s full focus on Monaco now and continuing work back at the factory to find more performance and catch up to Mercedes," Horner concluded.