Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen’s skirmish with Lando Norris on the exit of the pit lane was “completely truthful” after taking the win on the F1 Japanese Grand Prix.
Verstappen delivered a masterclass at Suzuka to take his first victory of the 2025 F1 season.
The Dutchman pipped the 2 McLarens to pole and managed the race from the entrance of the sector.
A slower Purple Bull pit cease for Verstappen on the finish of Lap 21 meant he was side-by-side with Norris on the exit of the pit lane.
Norris tried to overhaul Verstappen on the grass, however the reigning world champion narrowly coated it off.
The stewards famous the incident earlier than deeming that no investigation was vital.
Horner felt that Verstappen was fully proper to defend from Norris on the exit of the pit lane.
Reflecting on the race to Sky Sports activities, Horner stated: “It was tough. The undercut wasn’t so highly effective at this time. They tried to dummy us, early within the race, with a name for Lando.
“We might see you’d come out into visitors. So we caught to our weapons and so they gave Oscar the primary pit cease.
“Then, it was apparent they might pit on the following lap with Lando so we coated that. It was tight on the pit exit. However, completely truthful. It was a flat-out race, there was no tyre saving.”
Certainly one of Max Verstappen’s greatest weekends in F1
Verstappen’s first victory since Brazil means he sits only one level behind Norris on the prime of the drivers’ championship after three rounds.
Regardless of not having the quickest automobile in F1, Verstappen has continued to extract the utmost from the RB21 to this point in 2025.
Horner hailed Verstappen’s weekend in Japan as certainly one of his greatest.
“Max is one level behind now. For us, all precedence is on the drivers’ championship,” Horner added. “The constructors’ will likely be arduous. However it’s a protracted yr and also you by no means hand over.
“Max with none debate is the perfect driver on the planet at present. However you’re a crew. Not a driver and a automobile. You win and lose collectively. We all know this automobile has its vices, and the place we have to enhance.
“We turned it the other way up this weekend to get the automobile right into a window that Max might make use of. This championship is a marathon. It may possibly change shortly. It will likely be about improvement – there’s a massive change coming at race 9.
“Max was on the prime of his sport. That was the most effective weekends he has had in System 1.”
