Christian Horner has explained Max Verstappen still takes Red Bull by surprise with the level of performance he is able to achieve.
The Dutchman has long been able to extract more from his car than his team-mates. Not since Daniel Ricciardo left for Renault in 2019 - and even slightly prior to that - has anyone been a match for the now-four-time F1 drivers' champion.
Through Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, briefly Liam Lawson and now Yuki Tsunoda, no driver has been able to come close to Verstappen.
That is, in large part, because the Milton Keynes squad builds its cars around the 27-year-old, who is known for liking pointy, nervous machines with extreme amounts of front end. It is something other drivers cannot live with and has earned him the reputation as a "team-mate killer" in F1.
Nonetheless, his team principal was quick to shower the 64-time grand prix winner in praise when asked if he believes Verstappen has taken another step forward this season.
"Max has been operating at such a high level for a long time now, even back to 2020 and 2021," Horner told media including RacingNews365.
"He continues to surprise us with the levels he can hit."
Viewed by others:
'Wring every ounce...'
Last season's RB20 and this campaign's RB21 have been particularly difficult cars to grapple with, by Red Bull's recent high standards.
But that has not prevented Verstappen from continuing to maximise - and even exceed - what his cars are theoretically able to do, which Horner is acutely aware of.
The Briton highlighted how "comfortable" Verstappen is with delivering when the chips are down and results are on the line, when asked how his driver still surprises him after a decade working together.
"His ability to wring every ounce of performance out of the car," the 51-year-old explained.
"When you're really back to the wall – that last set of tyres in Q3 – that’s the pressure point where the greats step up.
"And that’s what we see time and time again. He’s just comfortable in that zone and delivers at an unbelievable level."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the biggest talking points from the Miami Grand Prix. Ferrari's radio tension, Oscar Piastri taking charge and Max Verstappen needing to change his McLaren approach are major discussions.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!