Max 'is like Mr Motivator for us', says Horner

Christian Horner has referred to Max Verstappen as "Mr Motivator", with the latter's victory at the Japanese Grand Prix buoying the entire Red Bull team.

It was a flawless weekend for the four-time World Champion, perhaps one of his most well-deserved race victories since the beginning of the ground effect-era of Formula 1 in 2022.

Despite struggling with balance issues on his RB21 during practice on Friday and Saturday, Verstappen put together an astounding fast lap on his final run in Qualifying to claim pole position, 0.012 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris.

Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri kept close company to Verstappen for almost the entirety of the 53-lap Grand Prix, but the Red Bull driver remained calm and saw the chequered flag first in a win that never looked in doubt.

Max Drove The Wheels Off The Car

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull Team Principal Horner was understandably ecstatic to witness his team's first win of the 2025 season.

He said about Verstappen: "Max has been absolutely outstanding this weekend. The hard work was done yesterday but he was inch perfect in the race.

"McLaren were quick but we were able to be that bit quicker to hold them off and keep them behind. Max drove the wheels off the car. We worked hard to give him a car he was able to extract the most out of. He is like Mr Motivator for us," added the Red Bull boss.

Horner also chimed in on second driver Yuki Tsunoda's efforts in his first race for the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Tsunoda failed to score points by finishing in P12, but Horner is confident in the Japanese driver's abilities going forward.

He stated: "[Yuki Tsunoda] has dialled himself into the car and team. He should make a step forward over the next few races."

But the Team Principal wants to make it clear that the focus is on the Drivers' Championship with Verstappen, with the Constructors' Championship very much an afterthought: "Our priority is the Drivers' Championship. The Constructors' will be harder but it is a long year and you never give up.

"It is a marathon and things can change. It is all about maximising your opportunities and we have done that this weekend."

• Read Also: Supreme Verstappen fends off McLaren duo to win Japanese GP

Horner was keen to return to the subject of Verstappen, claiming him to be the best driver in the world: "That was one of Max's best weekends. Max, without any debate, is the best driver in the world currently, but you are a team, not a driver. Wining is a real tonic.

"We know this car has some vices and we know where we need to improve. Bahrain will be a completely different challenge," concluded Horner.

Verstappen is now just one point behind Norris in the Drivers' Standings, with the duo on 61 points and 62 points respectively.

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