F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Horner: Verstappen forced into ‘cat and mouse’ game by Norris

Red Bull’s Christian Horner says Max Verstappen’s win over Land Norris in the Sao Paulo GP took the form of a “cat and mouse” game with the McLaren driver as the Dutchman pushed to build his lead while also managing his tyres.

Verstappen was crucially able to hold his own into the first corner on the race’s restart while Norris and Lewis Hamilton battled for position behind, with the McLaren gaining the upper hand over the Mercedes.

Although the Red Bull charger managed to put some air between himself and his pursuer, Norris was able to reel in his rival on lap 8 and even snap at his heels.

But the McLaren driver’s attack was short lived, which allowed Verstappen to break loose and manage his race without any further complications, the three-time world champion crossing the checkered flag with an 8-second buffer over Norris.

While the Dutchman’s 52nd career in F1 seemed cut and dried from the outside, Horner insisted it had been a savvy managed race by both team and driver.

“I think there was definitely a race,” Horner said. “Lando took his best set of tyres at the start and his best shot was probably off the line.

“So, I was relieved to see Max keep the lead at the end of the first lap.

“But then it becomes a game of cat and mouse, because it's about looking after the tyres and not stressing them too much. You are telling the driver look after the tyres, but pull out a gap - and the tow here is pretty powerful.

“But just like in the sprint, Max managed it incredibly well and was able to start to pull a gap. We then pitted on the same lap as Lando, and we actually extended the lead through the pitstop to just over five seconds.

“Then, on the medium [tyre], he had everything under control in the last stint. In the end it was reasonably straightforward, but McLaren definitely have been, over the last few races, our closest competitor.”

Verstappen echoed Horner’s comments, suggesting that he was definitely working overtime in the cockpit of his RB19 as he felt Norris breathing down his neck.

“Maybe it looks fully easy from the outside, but I think for most of every stint, Lando was matching my lap times,” said the Dutchman.

“It was always like the last five to ten laps [of a stint) when it seemed like we had better tyre deg. But yeah, the beginning of every stint, I definitely had to focus a lot and I couldn’t afford to make mistakes.

“And around here with the high deg as well, it’s not the easiest to drive. It’s not like you can just relax and let the car just roll into the corners without any consequence.

“You had to be really on it. Luckily, everything we did today, also strategy-wise, pit stops, were good. So, very happy about that.”

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Ferrari and Mercedes admit to plank changes based on FIA’s TD

Ferrari and Mercedes have both modified their car’s floor element in Las Vegas to comply…

1 hour ago

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton continues on top in second practice

Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on top of the timesheets for the second time in Las…

2 hours ago

2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 2 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas,…

2 hours ago

Leclerc confident Ferrari ‘has a shot’ at F1 Constructors’ title

Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari has a genuine “shot” at beating rival McLaren to Formula…

3 hours ago

Komatsu: F1 teams united against Audi 2026 cost-cap offset

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that nine Formula 1 teams stand in opposition…

4 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Hamilton leads Mercedes 1-2 in trouble-free FP1

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell led the field in a chilly but trouble-free first practice…

5 hours ago