Max Verstappen, the race winner, celebrated his victory on the podium of the Chinese Grand Prix. Christian Horner, the Team Principal of Red Bull, compared Verstappen to a “metronome” and believes that his continuous success in Formula 1 deserves more recognition.
Verstappen’s dominance in the sport continued as he secured his fourth win of the season in China, out of the five races held so far. He has been flawless in terms of speed, with the only setback being a technical retirement in Australia. With this victory, Verstappen now leads by 25 points ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez in the championship standings, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc following with a further nine points.
Horner praised Verstappen’s performance with the RB20, stating: “He is like a metronome. He has maintained the same pace he showed last year.” He further added: “Since the last Chinese Grand Prix, he has won half of all races and emerged victorious in 21 of the last 23 races. He is in exceptional form, perfectly in tune with the car and the team, and thoroughly enjoying his races.”
Following Ferrari’s strong performance in Australia and their subsequent one-two finish, there were hopes that they could challenge Red Bull in 2024. However, Red Bull’s upgraded RB20 car dominated the race in Suzuka, and Verstappen faced no opposition in Shanghai, finishing with a 13.7-second lead after 24 laps.
Despite claims that Verstappen’s dominance is making the sport less exciting, Horner rejected such notions and emphasized that success in Formula 1 is not eternal. He stated: “Success should be appreciated. Max is an extraordinary talent, and this is a golden moment for him.” He also added: “However, as history has shown us, no driver can stay on top forever. It is important to value the moment and make the most of it.” Horner also acknowledged that there are no guarantees they will be able to provide Verstappen with a car of the same caliber in the coming years, so it is crucial to seize the opportunities while they exist.”
