(Reuters) – Max Verstappen’s pole place lap on the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was ‘insane’ and certainly one of his better of the season, Red Bull crew boss Christian Horner mentioned on Saturday.
The Dutch 24-year-old was greater than three tenths of a second faster than title rival Lewis Hamilton, the seven-times world champion who will line up alongside on the entrance row for Mercedes.
The pole was the tenth of the marketing campaign for Verstappen and got here as he soaked up the stress of in all probability a very powerful qualifying session of his profession.
“I believe that’s certainly one of Max’s finest laps of the 12 months,” Horner informed Sky Sports tv.
Verstappen was given an aerodynamic tow by Mexican crew mate Sergio Perez however Horner mentioned that had not been the important thing component of his pole lap, though it was excellent crew work.
“The tow was in all probability value a tenth or two, not half a second. And I believe that his final sector, once you have a look at the extent of downforce he’s obtained on, is insane. It’s completely insane,” he added.
“I believe that Max has given it the whole lot. He’s driving his coronary heart out, he is thrown the whole lot at this session.”
Horner mentioned Perez had been the ‘dutiful crew mate’ and sacrificed what would have been an optimum lap to assist Verstappen.
Verstappen will probably be beginning on the smooth tyre, with Hamilton on the medium, after damaging a set of mediums within the second part of qualifying however Horner mentioned Red Bull weren’t overly upset at that.
“Track place I additionally assume, concerning (tyre) degradation, is essential,” he mentioned.
Horner steered Hamilton, whose crew mate Valtteri Bottas certified a distant sixth, would have his fingers full coping with these round him on smooth tyres within the opening few laps.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, modifying by Christian Radnedge)
