Christian Horner highlights 'a great shame' in Max Verstappen 'right thing' claim

Christian Horner maintains Max Verstappen could have secured a front row start for the Austrian Grand Prix had it not been for the Pierre Gasly-induced yellow flags in Q3.

The Red Bull team principal stated the Dutchman "certainly would have been third" on the grid if the Alpine driver had not spun at the last corner of the Red Bull Ring.

It caused Verstappen to back out of his final push lap, consigning him to a disappointing seventh on the grid, behind the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson, who will line up for the race in sixth.

Nonetheless, Horner was adamant the four-time F1 drivers' champion had "done the right thing" to slow down and abort his lap, despite his steering wheel display not instructing him to do so.

"He could see the yellow, so he's done the right thing, he's reacted to the flag," Horner explained to Sky Sports F1. "It takes precedence to the dash.

"It was a great shame. On the predicted time at that corner, he would have done a time that might have squeezed him on the front row, certainly would have been third [on the grid]."

It also ruined the final effort of Oscar Piastri, who was not able to start his second fast lap in Spielberg. The F1 drivers' championship leader will line up third, after McLaren team-mate Lando Norris dominated to claim pole.

Verstappen had not been particularly happy with the balance of his RB21 through Q1 and Q2. When asked what was causing those issues, Horner explained that it was mainly the high track temperatures at the circuit.

"I think mainly temperature. The McLarens are very quick here," he said. "You can see that this temperature plays to their strengths."

The 51-year-old pinpointed what lap time would have been achievable for the 65-time grand prix winner, who ultimately set a 1:04.929.

"But definitely - if you look at the lap time compare and so on, and the predicted time - he [Verstappen] would have done a high 4.4, 4.50 [1:04.4 or 1:04.5]," the Briton added.

"So yeah, could've, should've, would've. But he did the right thing with the yellow flag. So, plenty to do tomorrow."