Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen delivered one of the 'all-time great laps' by taking Pole Position in dramatic circumstances for the Monaco Grand Prix. With Red Bull competing at a circuit which did not emphasise the strengths of their RB19, Aston Martin and Ferrari were considered to be a threat to their one hundred percent win rate in 2023. Verstappen secured a sensational Monaco pole ahead Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in the final moments of qualifying with a rapid final sector, which turned around a two-tenth deficit. The reigning World Champion was forced to deliver much-improved lap in the all-important Monaco qualifying session after provisionally being placed in P5 in the closing stages of Q3.
Pole Position gave Verstappen the springboard to secure a second career Monaco victory, with Team Principal Horner putting the Dutchman's victory down to the "outstanding" Saturday lap. "That lap I think will go down as one of the all-time great laps in Monaco. It was stunning," Horner told media, including RacingNews365.com . "In sector one he matched is best, in sector two around Loews hairpin he was starting to find a bit of time. "He then had a very good Turn 10 and 11 through the chicane, so his middle sector was already building. Then literally as he came into the Swimming Pool, that's where he lit it up. "In Rascasse I think he touched every barrier, and then even coming out of the final turn onto the straight you could see how wide he was. It was 'win it or bin it', that was for sure." Horner continued to draw parallels with the tense qualifying session for the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Verstappen, who was en route to Pole Position, famously crashed into the wall on the outside of the final corner to hand the qualifying victory to championship rival Lewis Hamilton. "Qualifying [in Monaco] was one of the best laps of his career, and it was quite outstanding," added Horner. "The lap that he almost finished in Saudi Arabia a couple of years ago, this was the completion of that lap."
Most read
