Verstappen outpaces McLaren to win Spanish Grand Prix, says Horner
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
In what was a thrilling display of racing prowess, Max Verstappen etched his seventh victory in 10 races at the Spanish Grand Prix, showcasing not just the speed of his Red Bull car but his own exceptional skill, according to team principal Christian Horner.
McLaren, spearheaded by Lando Norris, also demonstrated frightening pace—enough to be considered the fastest by some competitors. However, Norris, who secured pole position, couldn't convert his advantage into a win, underscoring Verstappen's influence in the race.
"Job one was passing Lando into turn one," Horner remarked to reporters, highlighting the pivotal moment of the race. Despite Mercedes' George Russell briefly taking the lead at the start, Verstappen's strategic excellence shone through. "It was a race that was always going to be dominated by tyre wear. Being quick to pass George was crucial," Horner added.
Ultimately, Verstappen's drive was nothing short of flawless. "Today was all about not making any mistakes, and Max drove a perfect race," Horner praised. He acknowledged that 2022's almost perfect season—where Red Bull claimed 21 out of 22 races—was an anomaly. This year, the competition is tighter, yet Verstappen continues to be the differentiator.
This season has seen four different race winners, among them Norris, who won in Miami, and four different pole sitters over the past four races. Red Bull, while still a force to be reckoned with, have set the fastest lap just twice. Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, finds himself struggling, with only about half of Verstappen's points tally, sitting fifth overall.
Horner pointed out Norris's strength, suggesting McLaren could have clinched victory if not for a poor start. As it stood, Verstappen built a lead by lap three and never looked back. Norris fought valiantly, finishing just 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen, with both cars comfortably ahead of the rest of the field.
"Lando has emerged from the pack as the most consistent challenger," Horner noted, praising the 24-year-old's performance, which includes four second-place finishes and a win in the last six rounds.
Norris's perspective
Norris, while now closest to Verstappen in the championship standings, remains focused on closing the performance gap. "We should have done better today. We should have got some points back on Max," he said, reflecting on missed opportunities in both Spain and Canada. Despite moving up in the rankings, he remains unsatisfied: "Even though I moved into second in the championship, that doesn't matter. I couldn't care if I was second or 10th. It's more about the gap to what Max is, and he's still extending it at the minute."
Norris is confident in McLaren's potential: "There's a lot of, and there kind of always has been, a lot of 'shoulda, woulda, couldas'. But we have what it takes [to win]. It's just about putting it all together."
The next races promise to be a fierce battle as the teams step up their game to challenge Verstappen's growing dominance.
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