Verstappen's Thrilling Win Boosts Red Bull's Championship Hopes

Max Verstappen's thrilling win at the Japanese Grand Prix boosts Red Bull's championship hopes, with Christian Horner praising the team's performance.

Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix win, claiming victory from pole position on Sunday. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes this win stands out as one of Verstappen's best performances. Despite struggling with the RB21 this season, Verstappen managed to extract every ounce of performance from the car, excelling in both qualifying and the race.

“We know that McLarens are very, very fast, and it needed Max to be inch perfect with two very, very fast McLarens right behind him, and for 53 laps, he made not a single mistake,” Horner said, praising Verstappen's exceptional driving skills. Horner's comments highlight the competitive nature of the season, with McLaren setting the pace and pushing Verstappen to his limits. The Dutchman's ability to remain error-free under pressure was crucial to his success.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Max Verstappen's performance, saying, “I think that's one of Max's best weekends.” Horner highlighted the team's efforts to improve the car's setup, which allowed Verstappen to excel in qualifying and the race. ”We literally turned the car upside down, set-up wise, and he's worked very hard with the engineering team,” Horner added, emphasizing Verstappen's dedication and collaboration with the team.

Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with the victory but acknowledged that the car's limitations would hinder his chances of competing for a fifth world title. “We still have work to do, we still have limitations, but knowing these limitations you try to find out how much you can push it,” he said. Verstappen was clear that his team needs to improve the package to stay competitive, stating, “To fight for the title, we need more.”

MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS IN JAPAN!! 🏆

The Red Bull driver secures victory after a measured drive under pressure 👏#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/jJHRub1jJo

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 6, 2025

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was particularly pleased to secure a win at the Suzuka circuit, which is run by their longstanding engine provider, Honda, in the final year of their partnership. “A huge win, particularly here in Japan, running the car in a Honda livery,” Horner said, highlighting the significance of the victory. The win provided a boost to the team, especially given the challenges they faced earlier in the season.

Horner emphasized the motivational impact of the win on the team, stating, ”There's no bigger motivator than winning, and so the injection and motivation provided to the whole team is fantastic.” Despite acknowledging that there is still work to be done, Horner expressed confidence that the team would depart Japan with renewed energy and motivation, heading into the next race in Bahrain.