Horner labels Verstappen as a wet weather great

  • Published on 10 Apr 2017 13:38
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Christian Horner has hailed Max Verstappen after his drive in China. The Dutchman claimed Red Bull's first podium of the year even though he started the Grand Prix way down in P16.

The start of the race saw him climb nine positions in just two sectors and found himself in second place by lap 11. The performance in the mixed conditions yesterday added to the reputation of the 19-year-old after his driving masterclass in Brazil last year. 

When asked about his thoughts on Verstappen's drive, Horner said:  "Remarkable. His first lap in particular was mighty. I saw one of his passing moves where he went down the outside and passed about three cars and it was obvious that he meant business. He emerged from the first lap in sixth or seventh place. It was hugely impressive.

He appears to have almost a sixth sense in the wet. He doesn't seem intimidated by it in any way and he is prepared to explore all of the boundaries of the circuit available to find where the grip is. There's one move he made on the outside of Turn 6 where he just went straight down the outside of about two or three cars and then cut back. It was very, very impressive."

Despite only entering his third season in Formula 1, Horner already thinks Verstappen has earned a spot in the list of wet-weather greats, with some pundits already comparing him to the likes of Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

"I think he's right up there," Horner said. "It's not a coincidence, now you can see Brazil wasn't a one-off. Maybe good old Bernie's sprinkler system would be good for us! I think the way he's grown up, driving go-karts in the wet on slick tires and stuff like that, he's developed a real instinct and feeling."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,664
  • Podiums 101
  • Grand Prix 189
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (26)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile
show sidebar