Horner on Verstappen: There is a fine line between hero and villain

Christian Horner has praised the efforts of Max Verstappen over the course of the 2017 season and insisted that the best thing about the Dutchman's performance was his ability to recover through Red Bull's difficult period of reliability issues, and that there was a fine line between a driver being a hero and a villain.

Verstappen had engine problems at points during the campaign, and even spoke in August about losing faith in Red Bull due to the continuing issues. However, the team recovered impressively in the second half of the season and Verstappen would go on to claim two Grand Prix flags before signing a new contract until 2020.

Horner believes that Verstappen's most impressive quality this season was his recovery during the difficult periods.

"I think Max has had the benefit of experience and he has just grown in experience of racing in general," said Horner.

"It is easy to forget it is only his fourth year of car racing.

"What has really impressed me this year is the way that he has dealt with some of the difficult moments.

"There have been quite a few of those, particularly in the summer months, but he has kept working hard at it, he has kept the hours up on the simulator every week and his application is first class, and obviously his ability is unquestionable."

Horner thinks that Verstappen has identified a good balance between car control and aggression, even if he did get involved in a few collisions in the campaign, most notably against his own team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, in Hungary.

"The moves in Hungary or Monza were the only two mistakes he has made this year," Horner continued.

"There is a fine line between hero and villain.

"I think he has a great feel for the car, a great sensitivity to the limit of the car. He is a risk taker, but not irresponsible risk - calculated risk, and he has a fighting spirit within him which is exciting to watch.

"Overall he has driven well. I think both drivers have done a first class job this year."