F1 in focus: Red Bull boss Horner praises ‘remarkable’ Verstappen

Horner praises ‘remarkable’ Verstappen

Max Verstappen has been praised by Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner for his start to the 2019 Formula 1 season.

Verstappen, 21, currently sits third in the drivers’ standings behind Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas but ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel.

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Red Bull boss Horner told Sky Sports F1: “He’s done a remarkable job. During the course of last year, he really selected another gear and pretty much since Montreal onwards. He’s very much at the top of his game and enjoying the position he’s in.”

This season Verstappen has finished third in Australia and fourth in Bahrain and China. Horner added: “He’s driven three very strong grands prix this year. He was obviously unlucky not to be on the podium in Bahrain and had a go at Sebastian [Vettel, in China] after the second stop and drove a very mature race to bring it home fourth.”

Ferrari tipped to be ‘more competitive’ in Azerbaijan

F1.com writer Lawrence Barretto believes that Ferrari will be a “more competitive force” in Azerbaijan than they were last time out in China.

This week Ferrari head to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 57 points behind reigning champions Mercedes after the opening three races of the season.

Barretto said: ““Baku is a very high efficiency circuit, which should suit the slightly lower drag Ferrari than Mercedes. Encouraging, then, for Ferrari. But will it be enough?

“The great unknown is the tyres. If they can get the rubber into the right operating window, [Sebastian] Vettel and [Charles] Leclerc should have the edge.

“But get it wrong, take their eye off the ball in terms of strategy, or get caught up in issuing team orders, and defeat number four will be staring them in the face. And let’s not forget that the last two editions of the race have been pretty dramatic.”

The 2019 F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 28 April. The race at the Baku street circuit will start at 1.10pm (UK time).

F1 headlines

A round up of what the media are writing about in the world of Formula 1.

• Russell: Mercedes experience helps Williams (Sky Sports)
• Ferrari wrong to favour Sebastian Vettel over Charles Leclerc, ex-driver Gerhard Berger says (BBC Sport)
• Jolyon Palmer column: Flawless Mercedes pile pressure on Ferrari (BBC Sport)
• Billy Monger: ‘I want to make it to Formula One off my own back’ (The Guardian)
• Steiner: Haas can’t get tyres to work in race conditions (Formula Spy)
• Mercedes dismiss Ferrari-Haas style partnership with Racing Point (GP Fans)
• Raikkonen brought beer sponsor from Ferrari to Alfa Romeo (GP Fans)