Horner stresses: 'Verstappen is not interested in three points'

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Horner and Marko after sprint shootout Qatar 2023
7 October 2023 at 17:16
Last update 7 October 2023 at 17:29
  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

Max Verstappen may have missed out on the sprint pole in Qatar, but he still has plenty of opportunities to challenge the McLaren drivers in front of him during Saturday night's sprint race. Red Bull Racing chiefs Christian Horner and Helmut Marko stress that the Dutchman will not settle for anything less than victory.

Horner and Marko see plenty of opportunities for Verstappen

"First of all, congrats to McLaren. They have had a strong car the last four or five races," Horner praised the Woking-based team to Sky Sports. There could have been more in it for Verstappen, according to the Red Bull team boss. "Losing the first track limits offence on the first lap...it was important for Max to get a lap time on the board. Maybe we left a little bit on the table. It's very close and will make for an interesting sprint race," he acknowledged.

Verstappen will start in the sprint race behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris and will do everything possible to go for the win, according to Horner. "He's not interested in the three points. He's interested in the maximum points," he continued. "He's a racer, that's the way the team is attacking this weekend. We will give it our best shot and I think we will have an interesting race today."

Marko notes that third place is good enough for Verstappen to secure his third world title, but he too thinks there may be more in store. "It's enough for the world championship. Now we have to see if McLaren can keep this pace, but they were very fast yesterday. Overtaking is not easy here either, but let's see how the tyre situation is. The degradation will be crucial," said the Red Bull advisor.