Max Verstappen’s “insane” pole position in Formula 1 qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix wasn’t only down to gaining a tow from team-mate Sergio Perez, insists Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
Red Bull appeared to have a pace deficit to Mercedes heading into the final qualifying session of the 2021 season, with Verstappen slower than title rival Lewis Hamilton in final practice on Saturday morning.
But on his first lap in the top-10 shootout for pole, Verstappen blitzed the Yas Marina Circuit, helped by a tow from Perez down the back straight, to top the timesheets.
With Hamilton unable to overturn the five-tenth gap, Verstappen duly grabbed his tenth pole of the year, suggesting the slipstream had made the difference.
But speaking about Verstappen’s lap to Sky Sports F1, Horner revealed the championship leader nearly matched his sector time on his second run without the benefit of a tow.
“I think that’s one of Max’s best laps of the year,” Horner said.
“The tow, even on the following lap that we got him to back off on, he matched the time, and the tow was probably worth a tenth or two, not half a second.
“I think that his last sector, when you look at the level of downforce he’s got on, is insane. It’s absolutely insane.”
Verstappen goes into the title decider level on points with Hamilton, but is ahead of count back due to having nine victories to Hamilton’s eight.
Horner was full of praise for both Red Bull drivers for their team work to deliver a crucial pole position ahead of Sunday’s winner-takes-all finale.
“I think that Max, he’s given everything and he’s driving his heart out,” Horner said. “He’s thrown everything at this session.
“I think Checo has been the dutiful teammate. He sacrificed an optimal lap for him to give his teammate that performance. And I think that you can’t ask for more than that. So they put it on the pole. Now we’ve got to try and convert that tomorrow.”
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