Horner: "First time we've been on the front row in ten years"

After the successful test in Bahrain, Red Bull Racing started the 2021 F1 season as slight favourites. Four qualifying sessions into the season and Mercedes has won the last three. However, team principal Christian Horner wants to look at the 'defeat' in qualifying for the Spanish GP in a positive light.

"Our first front row start in Barcelona for 10 years and Max was once again so close to pole", Horner said afterwards in a Red Bull press release. "Being on the front row is very encouraging and there are a lot of positives to take from today. Last year we were 0.7s off pole and this year Max has completed an almost identical lap time to Lewis, so it’s great progress.”

Indeed, it is exactly ten years since Mark Webber last took pole position here for Red Bull Racing. He was then joined on the front row by teammate Sebastian Vettel in what cannot otherwise be described as a dominant display. The pair were almost a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton, who qualified third. Now Red Bull's second driver is just over a second behind the leader.

Despite starting from eighth and the Barcelona circuit being difficult to overtake, Horner expects the Mexican to find his way through. However, with Verstappen and Mercedes so close at the front, overtaking will be even more difficult there, so "a good start will be important", Horner said.