Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko hailed Max Verstappen's recovery drive in the Mexico City Grand Prix, describing his star driver as a "hound dog".
Verstappen endured a chaotic race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which saw him challenge for the lead from fifth on the grid into the first corner.
However, the Dutchman was forced wide into Turn 1 and went off the circuit as a result, cutting across the grass and rejoining on the exit of Turn 3.
He tumbled down to fourth but soon attacked Lewis Hamilton for third, a position he gained after the Ferrari driver received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the circuit and gaining an advantage – he overtook Verstappen off the circuit.
Despite the attack, the four-time world champion struggled on the medium tyres, costing him significant time. When fitted with soft tyres at his only pit stop, though, he came alive.
Verstappen calved his way through the field and caught Charles Leclerc in second, even though he had been 20 seconds adrift.
Unfortunately, a late Virtual Safety Car for a stranded Carlos Sainz ended Verstappen's hopes of second, although race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase still described his final stint as "insane".
Marko was amazed by Verstappen's recovery, with Red Bull having been confident that second was a realistic possibility if not for Sainz's Williams ending his charge.
"Max drove an incredible catch-up race," Marko told Sky DE. "He was on average five to six-tenths a lap faster, and we were one-hundred percent convinced he would still take second place.
"But Carlos Sainz gave a kind of late farewell gift to Ferrari."
With Verstappen having finished ahead of Oscar Piastri, he still reduced his deficit to the top of the drivers' standings, which is now led by Lando Norris – Verstappen is 36 points behind.
It was a race of atrition for Verstappen and Red Bull, as explained by Marko who highlighted that it was known within the team that the 28-year-old's race pace was strong.
"We knew he is like a hound dog, when the race pace would be stronger and once Max was in form," added Marko. Then everything is forgotten, and he goes all out."
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