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F1 | Russian GP | Second felt like a win for Red Bull says Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner admitted that Max Verstappen’s drive from 20th on the grid to second felt like a win for the team, as Verstappen capitalised on tricky conditions to limit the damage caused by taking on his fourth power unit before Qualifying.

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F1 | Russian GP | Second felt like a win for Red Bull says Horner
Fuente imagen: @redbullracing

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that Max Verstappen's second place in yesterday's Russian Grand Prix felt like a win for the team. 

During Friday's Free Practice sessions, Red Bull announced that Verstappen would take on his fourth power unit, meaning that regardless of where the Dutchman finished Qualifying, he would start at the back of the grid alongside Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who would also change his power unit before Saturday's Qualifying session.

But in changing conditions, Verstappen charged through the pack late in the race to finish an excellent second from 20th on the grid, with Verstappen and Hamilton separated by just two points in the driver's standings as the sport heads to Istanbul Park for round 16 of the championship.

When speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Horner was delighted with second place after limiting the damage caused by the change of power unit.

“For us to come away from here only two points away in the drivers' championship, with an engine penalty taken and the engine in the pool, that is great news. It feels like a victory for us. To be honest, to go from 20th to P2 with the engine penalty and the grid penalty, I don't think we could have expected more than that coming here. "

"Max was confident coming into the race but we thought top five might be possible. To come away with a podium, that is hugely valuable."

But whilst Verstappen's race came alive in the wet conditions, Sergio Perez's race fell apart after the Mexican pitted too late for intermediate tires, causing the Mexican to fall to a disappointing ninth at the checkered flag.

Horner reflected on his drivers contrasting fortunes with the tricky conditions.

"Sergio wasn't alone; there was a bunch of guys trying to brave it out thinking it was so close to the finish, if the rain just stops the circuit will come back."

"Max nailed it, he called it right and obviously was able to make it stick and obviously to come from 20th to P2, if you had offered us that at the beginning of the day we would have absolutely taken it."

Horner also congratulated Hamilton for securing a century of race wins, with the seven-time World champion becoming the first driver to win 100 Grand Prix's.

“The last two venues we knew Mercedes have been historically very, very strong, I have to say congrats to Lewis on his centenary of wins which is insane.

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