Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has explained the key strategy decision that helped 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen claim pole position at the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen produced a stunning lap to pip McLaren’s 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Oscar Piastri by just 0.010s in an incredibly close qualifying session under the lights in Jeddah, after championship leader 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lando Norris crashed out. 

Following a red flag for Norris’s crash which took the Briton out of pole contention, Red Bull elected to put enough fuel in Verstappen’s car so thatཧ he could complete two laps.

This was in contrast to his rivals, who all opted for a single flyi𒆙ng lap attempt for pole.

Verstappen took top spot during his first run on used tyres, before he once again outpaced Piastri on fresh tyres to bag his second pole of the ꧂season.

"Coming i𝓀nto that qualy off the of P3, it was all about who was going to be third. And suddenly, Q1, Max went quickest, and you think, ‘hang on, are McLaren sandbagging here?’” H🍒orner told Sky Sports F1.

"And then Q2, we were right there again. And then the unfortunate accident for Lando in Q3, there were only four cars with two new sets, which were the two McLarens, George and Max. Thankfully Lando was ok, but it l🅺eft it right on the cusp of doing two times, for which t♔here was 25 seconds of margin, or do you just hang in there and do one?

"We elected to do the two times, whic𓂃h puts you under pressure because if♛ there’s any issue at all, you’ve lost that margin. What was super impressive for me was that, because you take the pit stop, you’ve got to carry the fuel.

“So he had six or seven kilograms more fuel on that first lap, which he went quicke❀st, put th💎e pressure then on the other guys.

"And then again, his last lap was outstanding. To get that pole, our second in the last three races, is really rewarding. A phenomenal performance by Max and the team, and good to have Yuki up there in Q3 as wel𓂃l."

Tough job to keep Oscar Piastri behind

Despite Verstappen’s incredible performance, Horner remains wary of McLaren’s pa𝐆ce and the threat from Piastri, who will line up alongside the Dutchman on the front row of the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.

"It does (🍌reward pole position) because you have the fresh air. So, if you can convert the pol൲e, you’ve got that benefit of running in the clean air and not being in the turbulence of a following car,” Horner added.

"B🅠ut what we’ve seen this weekend, the McLaren is very, very quick, particularly in race trim. So I think we’re going to have a hell of a fight on our hands to try to keep Oscar behind us. But we’re startꦚing in the best possible position, so great to be going into it on pole.

"Honestly, I did not believe that was po𝕴ssible going into that session. But it just shows, you never give up. We’ve got a great team, you keep fighting.

“You keep chasing the per𒐪formance and then Max, he’ll go and deliver you that last ounce of performance."