Verstappen backs Horner: 'An incredible team boss'

Max Verstappen's pole position comes as a godsend result for Red Bull Racing. After several days in Bahrain full of turmoil surrounding team principal Christian Horner, the focus was finally back on the Austrian team's sporting performance. Yet the investigation into Horner - and certainly its aftermath - continues to occupy minds in the F1 paddock. Max Verstappen also received questions about Horner again after qualifying.

Formula 1 is a team sport, so when one of the (most important) team members has come under fire like this, it can certainly affect the internal state of mind and thus performance. Still Verstappen is focused on the driving.

Verstappen focused despite fuss around Horner

"From my side, and I think what I can see also from the mechanics and the engineers, we are fully focused on the car and the performance here during the weekend," the world champion explained. "And that's how it should be, I think. And that's what we continue to do. Because it's not our business. We're not particularly involved in that. And we are here. We are paid to do our job. And that's what we are doing. And that's also what we love doing. So that's what we focus on."

Verstappen therefore still has every confidence in Horner's leadership. "When I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss. So absolutely, from the performance side of things, you can't even question that. So that's what I'm also dealing with. I speak to Christian a lot. And also, of course, throughout the weekend here, he's fully committed to the team. You know, he's also here for the performance. Of course, probably a little bit distracted. But like I said before, we just focus on the performance side of things. And that's how we all work together."