Horner reckons Hamilton's fresh engine worth 'a couple of tenths'

Red Bull's Christian Horner believes the new Mercedes engine fitted to pacesetter Lewis Hamilton's car was worth "a couple of tenths" in Friday's qualifying session.

The seven-time world champion came out comfortably on top of the afternoon shootout that will determine the grid for Saturday's 26-lap Sprint Qualifying event.

Hamilton's margin over second place man Max Verstappen in qualifying was 0.438s, a advantage that Horner says was partly rooted in the fresh ICE assigned to the Briton by Mercedes.

"We saw from this morning that Lewis was very, very strong," Horner told Sky F1. "That fresh engine is obviously pumping out some horsepower for him.

"I think second was the best that we could hope for, so to be up there on the front row, we're OK with that."

Asked to put a number on Hamilton's performance advantage linked to the new engine, Horner said: "It's difficult for us to be able to predict that, but it looks like the relative speed compared to Valtteri... it's a couple of tenths.

"So that's obviously why they've chosen to take it here. But it's a Sprint race we've got tomorrow and then the qualifying coming off the back of that for the Sunday race."

Given Hamilton five-place grid drop for Sunday's race due to his engine penalty, Verstappen can afford to finish second to his rival in the Sprint race and still start on pole on race day.

But Horner doubts his driver will play it safe at the start.

• Read also - Verstappen: "Not a big shock" to miss out to Hamilton

"He's a racing driver, so if he can get the lead at the start, he'll go for it," said the Red Bull team boss.

"He only needs to finish second, obviously, to get the pole for the race on Sunday. So let's see. I mean, you've just got to go for the start and then see where you are.

"I think that we've got a good race car. It is going to get hotter through the weekend and the tyres are going to be a factor here.

"The race will be a different set of circumstances. He was talking about the front axle. It will probably be about the rear axle in the race tomorrow and, particularly, on Sunday, with the hotter temperature.

"I actually think we've got quite a decent race car here."

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