Verstappen ‘remarkable’ in China - Horner

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described Max Verstappen's performance in the Chinese Grand Prix as "remarkable" after the Dutchman went from 16th place to the podium.

Verstappen was hit by a power unit issue during qualifying on Saturday that resulted in him dropping out in Q1 and starting from 16th on the grid. With the race getting underway in damp conditions, the 19-year-old made up nine places on the opening lap to run seventh and then climbed through the field to eventually finish third.

Asked for his assessment of Verstappen's performance, Horner replied: "Remarkable.

"His first lap in particular was mighty. I saw one of his passing moves where he went down the outside and passed about three cars and it was obvious that he meant business. He emerged from the first lap in sixth or seventh place. It was hugely impressive.

"I think Max again put in a brilliant performance today. Again in the wet his first lap was fantastic, to come round sixth or seventh after the first lap. He raced hard but fair all afternoon."

And Horner says Verstappen's wet weather performance shows the extent of his natural ability, but stopped short of rating him above former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel as the team's best in such conditions.

"He appears to have almost a sixth sense in the wet. He doesn't seem intimidated by it in any way and he is prepared to explore all of the boundaries of the circuit available to find where the grip is. There's one move he made on the outside of Turn 6 where he just went straight down the outside of about two or three cars and then cut back. It was very, very impressive.

"I think he's right up there [with the greats in the wet]. It's not a coincidence, now you can see Brazil wasn't a one-off ... I think the way he's grown up, driving go-karts in the wet on slick tires and stuff like that, he's developed a real instinct and feeling.

"I remember Sebastian being fantastic in the wet. His first race that he won here was outstanding. But the great drivers always stand out in wet weather conditions. We saw Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone in 2008... The great drivers always do make a mark for themselves."