F1 News
Horner satisfied with Verstappen: 'Encouraging for Max'
Red Bull CEO and team principal Christian Horner is very satisfied with Max Verstappen qualifying in third position for the Australian GP. The Briton was happy with his team as they managed to improve the RB21 overnight.
Verstappen led the session after the first runs were completed in Melbourne in Q3, however, eventually finished in third position once the two McLaren drivers completed their final laps. Horner can't deny McLaren were too strong to catch for the Dutchman, therefore, he is happy with the result.
"Very encouraging for Max," Horner began to Viaplay after racing finished on Saturday. "I mean to have the provisional pole on that first run.He always felt like the McLaren’s had a better lap time and fair play to them, they put in both strong laps at the end of qualifying, but I thought Max did a very good job."
"I think the team have done a good job to improve the car throughout the weekend. So second row of the group, P3 for tomorrow’s race. Who knows what’s going to happen weather-wise, [it] could be interesting."
Horner further praises Verstappen
Talking to F1TV, Horner also explained where McLaren could gain on the Milton Keynes-based team, and further underlined that they could not match the Woking-based squad. "There’s maybe another tenth in the car, but I think we’re taking probably a little bit too much out of the tyres in the first two sectors. The McLaren’s very strong in that last sector, so I thought, I thought Max did a brilliant job today, and I think as a team we moved the car forward. We’re in the race, which is the main thing."
This article was written in collaboration with Kimberley Hoefnagel
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