Horner bemoans "fine margins" that cost Verstappen pole

Christian Horner has bemoaned the 'fine margins' cost reigning champion Max Verstappen pole position for the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Verstappen was beaten to pole by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, missing out by just 0.123secs.

Following qualifying, Red Bull team principal Horner pointed to a small error that cost Verstappen pole position but applauded the close fight that has been created by the new regulations.

"Ferrari have been strong all winter and you could see it was going to be tight between the two teams," said Horner.

"Charles did a great lap at the end there, Max had a little bit of a wobble in the last corner and the margins are so fine. To start on the front row with such a big regulation change, we’re more than happy with that.

"For such a clean sheet of regulations, between Checo and pole is three tenths, it’s nothing for such a big change and such radical differences between the cars.

"I think the race is going to be fascinating tomorrow, to see these cars if we can follow closer, if we can race closer.

"For us, after such an intense year last year, to turn up and qualify on the front row with this new car, Checo on the second row, we’re more than happy with that."

Horner unsure of Ferrari race pace

Horner conceded to not knowing how strong Ferrari will be in the race and believes his own Red Bull team still have more performance to find.

"It’s a little bit of a voyage of discovery because we don’t really know how strong their long-run pace is. We’ve got more to find out about ourselves.

"We had a decent run yesterday but it’s only going to be when the lights go out tomorrow that we really see what kind of shape we’re in, what’s the degradation like, how do these tyres respond, so that’s going to be interesting."

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