Red Bull buzzing to see Verstappen in P2 in team's home race

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has expressed his happiness with his star driver Max Verstappen starting as high as he is, with the Dutchman qualifying in third but starting from second because of a Lewis Hamilton penalty.

Verstappen's teammate Pierre Gasly was unlucky in Q3, not being able to string together a good lap in the final shoot-out after a promising weekend up until that point.

As for Verstappen himself, he will look to move into the lead and repeat his win from last season, although it will be a tough task to overtake pole sitter Charles Leclerc and drive away from the pack.

“That was a great lap by Max at the end of Q3," Horner said after the dust settled.

"He was quickest in Q1 and had been quick throughout qualifying. We elected to use the medium tyre for the start of qualifying and then took the soft in Q3 resulting in third [now second] on the grid, which is a great place to be starting our home race from."

When it comes to Gasly, Horner sympathises with his recruit, who had been well on the pace on Friday and on Saturday up until Q3.

"He’ll be starting in P9 [now P8 because of a Kevin Magnussen penalty] so we’re looking to make progress from there.”