Horner sees Verstappen proved wrong: 'Fortunately it was'

"It was a great lap at the end there from Max, and the circuit was getting cooler, so it was getting a little trickier," Horner said in a conversation with Viaplay. When Verstappen heard he had got P1, he laughed over the team radio. There was a reason for that. "He didn't think it was enough, but thankfully it was. Very, very tight behind, so it should be a good race tomorrow."

Whether Red Bull was worried after Thursday's second free practice? "I've always been saying that it's going to concertina, the regulations are stable, the cars are going to converge. And that's what we've got here this weekend," said the Austrian racing stable's team boss.

Sergio Perez starts fifth; the difference with Verstappen was about three-tenths. Horner sees chances for the Mexican veteran: "There's a tenth and a half between third and seventh. So I think Checo, he's in good company. I think we can have a good race," he concluded.