"Another stunning performance," claims Horner after Verstappen's third pole in 2025
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insisted that the reigning champion Max Verstappen performed a "nearly perfect lap" on course to his third pole position of the season in yesterday's qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix.
It was a day of extremes for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman was classified last in the Sprint race because of a penalty for an error that was not really his fault. However, he then went on to set the fastest time in qualifying, beating the McLaren of Lando Norris and the Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Verstappen, who has just become a father to baby Lilly, took his third pole of the season, with his best time of 1’26”204 having become a new outright lap record for the Miami International Autodrome circuit.
His team-mate Yuki Tsunoda started in the pit lane in the sprint race after making suspension changes overnight. He was the first driver to pit for slicks on the rapidly drying track, and this ambitious strategy allowed him to jump up the order and then was promoted to sixth following numerous penalties to grab some points.
In qualifying, the Japanese driver made the cut into the last segment, but he ended up only tenth on the grid, albeit it represented a better result after his poor sprint qualifying on Friday.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insisted that the Dutch driver performed a "nearly perfect lap" on course to his third pole position of the season.
"That was another stunning performance from Max. Nearly the perfect lap. He had a little wobble at turn one but was able to keep the moment going and then he just nailed the last corner as well.
"It was really impressive, Max’s third pole of the year and our third successive pole here and a track record," Horner continued.
"Yuki equally did well to get to Q3 again, again, the third time he has done so and he recovered impressively in the Sprint today to rise from back of the grid to P6. He is settling in well and getting a good feel for the car, let’s hope he can carry it into the race.
"Tomorrow it is all to play for. Miami is a long race and it’s also a tricky race. There is a chance of rain too and as such, the risk of a safety car. A safety car can change the dynamic of the whole race as we have seen previously. As I say, all to play for!"
