Christian Horner reckons Crimson Bull “threw the kitchen sink” at enhancing its RB20 Method 1 automobile in preparation for Qatar Grand Prix qualifying, which helped Max Verstappen seal pole place.
Verstappen praised the crew for its turnaround in fortunes, having managed solely sixth on the grid for the dash race – during which he completed eighth after a poor opening lap.
This prompted Crimson Bull to go for broke with its set-up when parc ferme opened up after the dash, and Verstappen felt an instantaneous enchancment within the steadiness – one which he’d dismissed as “horrible” earlier within the day.
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Talking to Sky F1, Horner stated that Crimson Bull modified every part that it might to get the tyres to chew within the colder situations, which it finally managed as Verstappen nudged forward of George Russell within the order.
“It is an ideal turnaround. I believe the engineers and the crew again in Milton Keynes have labored very onerous,” Horner instructed Sky.
“They have a great set-up on the automobile, Max has instantly felt [more confident] – his first remark was that it feels higher. After which he is simply gone out and delivered in probably the most spectacular manner.
“We just about threw the kitchen sink at it; just about every part you can change, we did change.
“You by no means know if it is all going to return collectively within the steadiness. And it did, and he was in a position to actually nail it. We actually struggled yesterday, Flip 1, Flip 2, and notably the final flip; just a little bit at seven as properly. And people corners abruptly got here alive for us.
“That final lap, it was neck and neck with George going into that final flip and he nailed the final nook, and it was simply adequate.”
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Verstappen defined that his automobile being extra “related” had given him the boldness to push extra in qualifying, and hadn’t anticipated to see such progress being remodeled the sooner dash periods.
He famous that the race can be one other problem completely, and hopes that the brand new set-up would possibly enable him to mitigate put on to the front-left tyre across the plethora of long-radius corners in Qatar.
“I did not count on that; properly achieved to the crew to provide me a automobile that feels a bit extra related. As soon as the automobile is a little more collectively, you possibly can push additionally tougher and it felt so much higher on the market in qualifying for me.
“We did change a bit on the automobile, however I by no means thought it could make such a swing in efficiency. In order that’s promising. I hope it additionally lasts extra within the race.
“I do not know that but, but it surely simply felt already much more steady over one lap, and that is precisely what we want. It is going to be a troublesome race bodily, however I believe additionally primarily on the tyres simply ensuring that you simply’re good on them.
“The entrance left round right here will get eaten up quite a bit. It is all about managing that tomorrow. I hope that with the set-up we’ve got on the automobile now, it is going to be a bit higher.”
Images from Qatar GP Dash Race & Qualifying
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Jake Boxall-Legge
Method 1
Crimson Bull Racing
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