Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, achieving this feat from pole position for the fourth year in a row. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Verstappen’s performance, stating that it was one of his finest race victories yet.
This season has been challenging for Verstappen as McLaren has shown formidable pace, but he excelled in qualifying and maximized the potential of the RB21 during the race. Horner noted how crucial it was for Verstappen to execute flawlessly with McLaren drivers closely trailing him for the entire race. “He made not a single mistake over 53 laps,” Horner remarked.
Despite the victory, Verstappen acknowledged that the current car setup still has limitations that will hinder his quest for a fifth world title. He stated, “We still have work to do, we still have limitations… To fight for the title, we need more.” As a result, Verstappen is now just one point shy of Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship standings, yet Red Bull sits third in the manufacturers’ championship, trailing McLaren and Mercedes.
In a nod to the team’s adjustments, Horner recently brought Yuki Tsunoda back as the second driver, sending Liam Lawson back to the feeder team. Tsunoda started in 14th and made progress during the race to finish 12th, although he expressed a desire to finish in the points during his home Grand Prix.
Horner expressed optimism about Tsunoda’s growth within the team and expected a notable improvement in performance in future races. He emphasized the significance of winning in Japan, marking it especially memorable as they ran the car in a Honda livery—the final year of this partnership.
Horner concluded that the victory would serve as a motivational boost as the team heads to Bahrain for their next race, which adds excitement for fans and the team alike. This win illustrates the resilience and determination required in motorsport and lays a hopeful foundation for the rest of the season.
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