Christian Horner labels Max Verstappen’s epic qualifying run as ‘one of his best laps EVER’

Christian Horner has insisted Max Verstappen‘s lap to take pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix was one of his best qualifying laps ever.

The defending world champion came from 0.2s down from Fernando Alonso after two sectors of the last lap to pip the Spaniard by 0.08s and secure his first ever pole at the iconic circuit.

He was filled with emotion on the team radio after securing top spot, which denied Alonso his first pole in over 170 qualifying sessions.

Verstappen will now be the heavy favourite to win the race on Sunday, with overtaking traditionally difficult at the circuit.

Red Bull team principal Horner, meanwhile, heaped the praise on his driver, who once again leads the world championship.

Christian Horner las labelled Max Verstappen’s qualifying run as ‘one of his best laps ever’

Verstappen recovered in the final sector of his lap to secure his first pole position at Monaco

He was 0.2s down on Fernando Alonso (left) but took pole ahead of the Spaniard by 0.08s

‘I think that is one of the best laps he’s ever driven in qualifying,’ Horner said via Sky Sports. ‘When he arrived at the swimming pool he was 0.2s behind Fernando.

‘Then all the time through that last sector, I think he hit the wall on both sides but carried the momentum and the speed. I could see him gaining the time, I knew it was going to be close and he just did it.

Of 68 races at Monaco, 58 have been won by a driver on the front row. But only two of the last seven have come from the pole sitter.

Verstappen will have to improve that record if he’s to extend his lead at the top of the championship, though his closest rival, team-mate Sergio Perez, will start last after crashing in qualifying.

Verstappen is a heavy favourite to win the race given the difficulty to overtake on the track

He did, however, admits he won’t care about his qualifying lap unless he wins on Sunday

The Dutchman had calmed by the time he spoke to the media, and had tunnel vision on Sunday’s race despite his impressive lap on Saturday.

‘If it ends up in a great result I’m happy, otherwise I don’t care, he said.

‘The race should be okay. It’s just about having a clean start. There’s always chaos involved in Monaco, but I think our race pace in the general behaviour of the car on the tyres is fine.

‘It was all about just putting that together over one lap, which I knew that was going to be a little bit harder for us here in Monaco, just with how our car is characterised. But still, to be first here, it’s great for the whole team.’