Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner says that Max Verstappen’s Canadian GP victory was “well-earned” after the Dutchman faced a stiff challenge from George Russell and Lando Norris. Verstappen fell to third at one stage, but he fought back in style to log the 60th victory of his career by staying clear of Norris in the closing laps.
Horner made it clear that the driver and his team worked together successfully to bounce back from a disappointing sixth place last time out in Monaco.
“That’s a well-earned victory today,” he said when asked by this writer about Verstappen’s performance.
“Just look at the restarts, look at how he was able to really make use of the conditions. And I think he was at the top of his game, working well with the pit wall.
“I think strategically, we made the right calls, we made the right adjustments during the race, and we reacted well to what was going on around us. So a very rewarding race to win.”
Horner said that the car was working well on the wet track at the start of the race.
“Obviously, in those conditions, you’re driving on your senses,” he said. “And I think he did an incredible job today. But working with the pit wall, we got it right.
“I think when you look at the race, and you break it down, I think the first stint today, we looked very competitive at the beginning of the race, and we were pushing George pretty hard and pulled out seven seconds very quickly on the cars behind. So, I think in the wetter conditions, we were set up pretty well.
“And then, unfortunately, we just dropped a little back from George as the DRS opened. As the track was drying out, it looked like the Mercedes was in more trouble. We were struggling to get past, and that then gave Lando a free pass.
“And at that point, it looked like McLaren were the favourites to just walk away and win the race. Then, obviously, pit stops came, and we went on to another new set of inters. There was a safety car at that first point so that then neutralised everything.”
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JUNE 09: George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W15 leads Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 and the rest of the field at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 09, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202406090545 // Usage for editorial use only //
Crucially, leader Norris missed the pit entry when the safety car came out and had to do an extra lap, which dropped him from the lead to third place.
Horner says he expected McLaren to have called Norris in any way, given that Logan Sargeant’s spun Williams looked set to create a safety car.
“We would have come in because the tyres were toast and we knew the rain was coming, all the information was that rain was coming,” he said.
“So I was surprised that they didn’t pre-empt it, to be honest with you, because it looked like it was going to go to be a safety car.
“But it’s kind of payback. I think GP [engineer Gianpiero Lambiase] made the comment – which I felt was 40 laps too soon! But effectively it was sometimes the way the safety cars go, and it was payback for Miami.”
Horner said that tweaks made at the pit stop improved the car as the track dried and slicks became an option.
“I think the adjustments that we made then, we were then able to get ourselves into a better position,” he noted.
“I thought we were in a much better window as the circuit dried out, we were able to hold a consistent gap, and then it was all about getting that crossover at the right time because the first sector was pretty damp, and when you drive out of the pit lane, you obviously lose a huge amount of the temperature.
“So I felt that we timed that about right, going on to the medium tyre.”
McLaren took a gamble by leaving Norris out for two laps on his worn intermediates after Verstappen changed to slicks in an attempt to create a gap.
“While Lando was able to capitalise enough to hit the 20-second mark, and it hovered around that for a lap, obviously, with each lap we did, the tyres were getting warmer,” said Horner.
“I was surprised that they didn’t cover after one lap. They left him for two. And that was crucial because it gave Max another lap to generate the temperature.
“So when Lando did pit, Max just had tyres that were in the window and was able to drive straight past and pull out pretty much a three-second gap by sector one. So, that timing was crucial.
“And then, obviously, there was quite a fight going on behind us. And then the safety car with a few laps to go, it was then a straight fight. Lando had two laps better tyres than us. George had taken the opportunity to pit.
“We had good enough pace to pull away and pull out a circa three-second gap by the end of the race. So, as the circuit dried out, we had a good pace and good degradation. It was a fantastic race for Max to win.”
Horner downplayed a comment that Verstappen made about the RB20’s suspension.
“I think what he was referring to is the car obviously, is pretty stiff,” he said. “And as the circuit was drying out, the car is just going that bit quicker, and they’re starting to use kerbs.
“I think we understand what our issues are, and it was a great recovery from Monaco a couple of weeks ago to win a race like that. It was a very rewarding and big one to win.”
