Christian Horner asserts Max Verstappen would have triumphed at the Monaco GP, regardless of Fernando Alonso’s tyre choice
Christian Horner claims they could have won the even if Fernando Alonso had chosen intermediates as they had huge margin over him.
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Fernando Alonso (left. image via: The Independent) ; Christian Horner (Middle, image via: The Independent) and Max Verstappen (Right, image via: Flash)
Christian Horner, the team principal at Red Bull, is unwavering in his belief that Max Verstappen possessed a significant advantage over Fernando Alonso during the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix. He asserts even if the Spaniard had opted to pit for intermediate tyres on his first stop where he chose dry medium compounds.
From the outset, Max Verstappen embarked on the race with medium tyres, while Fernando Alonso opted for hard compounds. As the event unfolded, Verstappen comfortably maintained his lead, showcasing his skill and tire management capabilities. Christian Horner acknowledged Verstappen’s flawless start, noting, “Job one was to get the start, which he did pretty comfortably.”
Rain clouds loomed over certain sections of the circuit, leaving others dry. Aston Martin, anticipating a fading rain threat, chose to stay on dry tires, hoping for an advantage. Verstappen, on the other hand, made all the right calls, skillfully navigating the changing conditions. Remarking about Aston Martin’s tyre choice Briton said, “I was surprised they took the medium tyre, so that totally let us off the hook.”
Addressing concerns about the potential impact of Alonso pitting for intermediate tires, Horner confidently asserted that Verstappen had a significant margin over the Spaniard. “We had so much margin. We didn’t need to pressure and get the decision wrong,” Horner reassured, emphasizing their belief in Verstappen’s ability to stay ahead.
Christian Horner showers praise on Max Verstappen for his impressive tyre management
Horner applauded Verstappen’s ability to preserve his tyres, noting that they appeared to be in better condition than Alonso’s when the rain arrived. “The way that Max made the medium last, his tyres, at the point the rain arrived, looked in better shape than Fernando’s tyres,” Horner explained.
In the end, Verstappen’s margin of victory was undeniable. He crossed the finish line 27.921 seconds ahead of Alonso, securing his fourth win in six races this season. Red Bull’s continued dominance in the 2023 campaign was cemented by Verstappen’s triumph, propelling the team even further ahead in the constructors’ championship.
As the Formula 1 season unfolds eyes will be locked on the Spaniard if he can break Red Bull’s streak and take his first win after over a decade. F1 heads to Spain for the next weekend, Alonso won his last race there and will be hoping to make the count to 33 wins. Red Bull currently have a very powerful machine underneath them and are on the verge of making it most consecutive wins by any team.
In case you missed it:
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- Helmut Marko gives a major update on Nyck de Vries’ ultimatum after outperforming teammate Yuki Tsunoda at Monaco GP
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Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)