Horner reveals Red Bull changed "a lot of things on the car"

Following a surprise pole position from Max Verstappen in the main qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss has revealed that the reigning champion team has changed "a lot of things on the car" between the 19-lap Sprint and the qualifying session.

Following a low-key showing in Qatar F1 Sprint, Max Verstappen bounced back with an eye-catching performance in the main qualifying for tomorrow’s Qatar Grand Prix. The newly-crowned four-time world champion looked strong from the get-go, with Red Bull having made several tweaks to his RB following the sprint race.

The Dutchman needed a quick lap in the dying seconds of Q3 to beat George Russell, which he was able to deliver to secure his first pole position since the Austrian Grand Prix.

Speaking of Red Bull's day in Qatar, the Milton Keynes-based outfit's team boss Christian Horner said that he can only hope that the changes the outfit has made to the RB20 between the sprint race and the main qualifying will pay dividends in the race.

"We changed a lot of things on the car and we have given Max a car that he has been able to go out and deliver the Pole in. That’s our first official pole since Austria, so that is fantastic for everyone and a great Team effort.

"Checo made similar set-up changes to Max, his were a little less aggressive and it was good to see him in Q3. It was an important qualifying for the Team and it is great to be starting form the front for the race tomorrow.

"Hopefully the changes we made to the car for Qualifying can play out in the race as well and we have a successful Sunday," concluded Horner.