Max Verstappen and Christian Horner have spoken out after the Red Bull driver fended off competition from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday.
Verstappen went into the event hunting his second triumph of the year as he looks to retain his title.
And the 27-year-old did exactly that, with a superb overtake on the first lap paving the way for a sensational win that blows the race for F1 title glory wide open.
Verstappen has faced criticism this term amid his struggles to reach his usual levels of consistency.
Max Verstappen and Christian Horner have spoken out after the Red Bull driver fended off competition from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday
REUTERS
However, the Formula One star was full of pride after winning the event and closing the gap on Piastri at the top of the standings.
"The start itself wasn't particularly great but I was still on the outside line, the normal line, so I was like 'well I'm going to try and send it around the outside' and it worked really well," he said.
"Of course, that unleashed our pace because when we were in the lead, the car was good. I could look after my tyres.
"Massive improvement from Friday and I'm very pleased with that.
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"The VSC was quite handy to pit. Even then, on the hard compound our pace was strong but then there was a Safety Car, so the field was back together.
"But on the restart we managed it all pretty well and brought it home.
"Incredibly proud of everyone. It's been a very important week for us. The car has performed really well.
"Also, I think the execution of the whole race - when to pit and the pit stops themselves were all very good."
Max Verstappen was too quick for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as he won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
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Red Bull chief Horner was also delighted, with the Briton lavishing praise on his star driver.
"That first corner was in it or bin it," he said.
"Oscar was fair and gave him space but Max was coming from a way back and he just commits to the corner.
"That was the last they saw of him. Incredibly decisive. He's just so good in those situations.
"Oscar is trying to defend a championship lead and Max saw a gap and went for it. That's the instinctive racer we see week in and week out."
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On Verstappen's hopes of winning a fifth F1 title, he continued: "I've always said this championship is a marathon.
"We are on race seven and we have won two of them. It's all about where you are at the end of it. You've got to stay in touch through this phase.
"We are finding form. It's a completely different challenge next weekend and then a regulation change the weekend after.
"Our full focus is on the drivers' championship. We have a very clear No 1. in our team and that's where the clear focus is."
Christian Horner was proud of Max Verstappen after the Red Bull star won the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
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Verstappen will be hoping to continue his improvement when the Monaco Grand Prix takes place on May 25.
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc won the race last year.
