Verstappen "absolutely insane" in landing vital Abu Dhabi pole

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has hailed Max Verstappen's "absolutely insane" performance to take a crucial pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen blew away F1 title rival Lewis Hamilton in Q3 with a pole lap almost four-tenths quicker than that of the Mercedes driver, with a helping hand from team-mate Sergio Perez who provided a slipstream.

Horner however conceded the switch to the soft tyre in Q2, the tyre with which Verstappen will now also start the race, was forced by the Dutchman's lock-up.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Horner claimed: "I think that was one of Max's best laps of the year.

"The tow, even on the following lap we got him to back off on, he matched the time. The tow was probably worth a tenth or two, not half a second.

"His last sector, when you look at the level of downforce he has got on is insane, absolutely insane."

Pointing to the part Perez, who qualified fourth, played in assisting Verstappen claim the top spot, Horner explained: "We discussed the slipstream this morning.

"We lowered the downforce, it was the only way of matching these guys on the straights.

"I must admit, after Q1, the kind of times that Lewis was knocking in, we can't do that. But then, Q2 came towards us, we had a lock-up on the medium which wasn't ideal, that forced us to take the softs.

"Both runs in Q3 were exceptional and of course, that tow, Checo working with his team-mate to give him that tow down the two straights was absolutely perfect teamwork today."

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