Horner: 'Think we have a solution for this weekend'

"On the pit wall, it could be doing with it being a bit warmer. " Horner laughed in conversation with Sky Sports, before continuing in a more serious tone, "It's tricky out there, an important and only session before qualifying. You have to try and get as much data as you can out of this session, it's very focused on qualifying. Get the drivers dialled in and pick your choice for quali. The drivers are on essentially the same set-up as a baseline and will tune the car in from there.

That it's make or break for Red Bull, the British team boss agrees. The difference with Ferrari in the World Drivers' and Constructors' Championships is already so great that another DNF could have very big consequences for the chances in the remainder of the World Championship. "It's an important weekend for us, lots of points available and we want to make sure we are there to capitalise. We can't afford to have the gap grow again, we need to start eroding it rather than seeing it grow."

The engine Verstappen is driving at Imola is the same one he crashed out with during the Australian Grand Prix. The power unit has been flown to Japan to be examined. "We have been working with our colleagues in Japan, they have found the issue and resolved it. I believe we have a fix for this weekend. Unfortunate for a part that has done 10s of 1000s of kilometres without an issue. But unfortunately, it appeared at the wrong time in Australia," Horner concluded.