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Horner praises Renault for role in Mexico GP win

Horner praises Renault for role in Mexico GP win

30-10-2018 10:05
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Jake Williams-Smith

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has praised engine partner Renault for their part in the race victory for Max Verstappen in Mexico. Red Bull looked stronger than at any point previously in the season at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Although Red Bull's relationship with Renault has been turbulent at best, Horner admitted after the race that the power unit side of the package performed well in Mexico and to such a high level it left Mercedes and Ferrari playing catch-up.

Having locked out the front row in qualifying, Red Bull had been on course for a one-two finish with Daniel Ricciardo looking like he would have been able to keep Sebastian Vettel behind him for longer than his engine lasted, unfortunately expiring before the end.

“Credit where credit is due,” Horner admitted. “Renault have provided us with an engine this weekend in these conditions that is competitive with our opponents.

“We went head to head (with Red Bull’s rivals), locked out the front row, pole position, second position, front row of the grid, and won the grand prix in a dominant fashion,” he said. “Theoretically we should have had a one-two too.”

“The altitude of this circuit obviously does constrain some of our rivals, and it puts Renault into a window where they are competitive. Which is why we put an awful lot of focus into this race, taking the penalties to get another B spec into the pool to have for this weekend.”

The qualifying result was Red Bull's best since their last front row lockout in Austin in 2013. Max Verstappen was denied the record for youngest polesitter in F1 history on Saturday but drove an unmatchable race on Sunday to take his second victory in Mexico.

Red Bull switch to Honda power for 2019, a swap they hope will put them on the same level as Ferrari and Mercedes on a more regular basis.