Horner confirms Red Bull qualifying experiments

Christian Horner has revealed that Red Bull was experimenting with its front-wing all throughout Australian Grand Prix qualifying, which ended with Max Verstappen on pole.

Throughout practice and the first segment of qualifying, Verstappen was not the clear favourite for pole position, with Carlos Sainz emerging as his nearest challenger.

In the end, Verstappen stormed to a fourth straight pole and third of the season to continue his 100% record, as Sainz slotted in on the front-row, with Sergio Perez third in the sister Red Bull RB20.

Horner explained how the team has been struggling to find the correct balance with the machine throughout the weekend, and that it was adjusting the front-wing flap angle - one of the few items permitted to be changed in parc ferme conditions - right through the session.

"All through practice and qualifying, we've been giving away a tenth-and-a-half in sector three, and finally managed to get the balance right [for qualifying]," Horner told Viaplay NL.

"Max did two great laps, both of which were good enough for pole, and Checo delivered a great lap to put himself third on the grid, so first and third is really good for tomorrow.

"I think we tried the full range of the front-wing adjust through that session, and it just kept going up and up and up on the front-wing, and it is quite windy as well.

"It is getting cooler as well towards the end of qualifying, but he got it together, got it worked out and did two great laps."