Horner on the same page as Marko: 'Verstappen could have won this!'

22:17, 20 Apr

byKada Sarkozi

Christian Horner also did not agree with the penalty Max Verstappen received at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Still, there are plenty of positives for the Austrians, the team principal explained.

Off the line, Oscar Piastri had a better start at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Heading into the first corner, The Australian was alongside Verstappen, but the Dutchman decided to cut the track. As a result, he was given a five-second penalty.

"We had that sort of discussion with the race directors, obviously, before the race through briefings and whatever else. We have this notion of let them race... I don't know where Max was supposed to go with that first corner," Horner shared his thoughts on the incidents to Sky Sports after the Grand Prix.

The British team principal was also encouraged by the gap to which Verstappen could finish behind Piastri in the end.

"Let's not forget, on Friday, McLaren had 1.2 seconds on everybody. I thought the pace in the car, Max was feeling comfortable out there, and he was pulling out the gap. We were trying to get the gap at the pit stop, even with the penalty, but it wasn't to be. So good points, important points today. We're only 12 points off the lead of the championship. We've taken a few points out of Lando, so everything to play for going forward

Horner agrees with Marko

Red Bull top advisor Helmut Marko has declared after the Grand Prix that Verstappen would have won without the aforementioned penalty.

Horner agrees with the Austrian in this regard. "We know McLaren are very, very quick. But the last three races, two pole positions, a first and a second. Obviously Bahrain was tough for us. Arguably, without that penalty, we would have won today as well. So a lot of positives to take, a lot of lessons, and we know we've got to improve," he concluded.

This article was written in collaboration with Estéban den Toom