"Verstappen's pole lap was outstanding," claims Horner after the Dutchman's brilliant pole position in Jeddah
On the back of a crises meeting following last Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insisted that Max Verstappen's pole position was the perfect response to the paddock chatter.
Following a tough Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull have turned their weekend around in style. Max Verstappen already showed signs of competitiveness across the Friday practice sessions, confirming that the high-speed corners of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit suit his RB21 much more than the traction-dominated Sakhir track.
The reigning champion was right in the mix all through Qualifying, and he started more and more comfortable in his RB as the track surface constantly cooled down. The Dutchman went for two runs after the Q3 red flag, and it proved a masterstroke, his second lap was good enough to take his 46th career pole position.
His team mate Yuki Tsunoda was impressive through the first two qualifying segments, but he could not put it together in the final qualifying session, and the Japanese ended up ninth on the grid.
After numerous reports emerged about a crisis meeting occurring after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insisted that the pole position was the perfect response to the paddock chatter.
"Coming into Quali off the back of FP3 it was all about who was going to be third and then suddenly in Q1 Max went quickest. In Q2 we were right there and then there was the unfortunate accident for Lando in Q3, thankfully he was okay, but it meant there was only three cars with two new sets left, which was Oscar, George and Max.
"We had to make a decision as a Team and the driver has to buy into that and be happy, we elected to do the two timed laps and that puts you under pressure because if there is any issue at all you have lost that margin. A great call by everyone.
"What was so impressive for me was because Max had to take the pitstop to change tyres, he had to carry the six or seven kilos more fuel than anyone else, and then he went quickest on that first lap.
"That put the pressure on the other guys and then his last lap was outstanding. To get that pole, our second in the last three races, is phenomenal and really rewarding. It was a wonderful performance by Max and the Team.
"The set-up changes we made definitely helped, and it gave Max a car he could attack with, we still expected to see a margin to the other cars but it seemed to disappear this evening and Max set a track record out there.
"We will have a fight on our hands with Oscar tomorrow but we are starting in the best possible position. It was good to have Yuki up there in Q3 as well, he is really finding his way in this car and with the Team. I have been impressed by how calm he is, he was in the ice bath 10 minutes before the session! We are super satisfied with him, and he is right up there to win good points tomorrow."
