Max Verstappen must avoid Silverstone repeat on "risk-and-reward" first lap - Christian Horner

Verstappen crasht op Silverstone. — Photo: © LAT Images

Italian Grand Prix

Verstappen must avoid Silverstone repeat on "risk-and-reward" first lap - Horner

Verstappen lines up alongside Ricciardo at Monza

Ewan Gale

Sunday 12 September 2021 11:00

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Christian Horner has made clear Red Bull does not want a "repeat" of Max Verstappen's first-lap retirement at Silverstone during the "risk-and-reward" opening to the Italian Grand Prix.

Verstappen finished second to Valtteri Bottas in the sprint but has inherited pole position by way of the Mercedes driver's grid penalty for new engine components.

The Dutchman will be joined on the front row by former Red Bull team-mate in McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo whose lightning start to the 18-lap event saw him jump from fifth to third into turn one.

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At the last sprint trial weekend, Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided on lap one of the main grand prix in Britain, and with his championship rival lining up only fourth, Horner evaluated his driver's potential mindset.

"I think you get into that risk-and-reward scenario," he told Sky Sports F1.

"Of course, he is going to fight for the win, that is his instinct but at the end of the day, you have got to be there for the chequered flag.

"We saw the consequence of that at Silverstone and we don't want a repeat of that following the sprint so, of course, the objective is to convert pole position into a victory but I think there are going to be challenges tomorrow."

Horner - "Quite phenomenal" to start from pole

Monza was highlighted by Red Bull as a damage limitation weekend given the power-sensitive layout at Monza, with Verstappen at one stage on Friday looking in danger of failing to outqualify the two McLarens.

Asked if he would have bitten a hand off to take pole ahead of the weekend, Horner replied: "Not just your hand.

"It is our first pole in the hybrid era here - or I think it's pole. We are starting from first on the grid. It is the first time we have been in the top three so a good performance, two points are valuable for us, we are happy with that.

"It has always been a bit of a bogey circuit for us so it is quite phenomenal that we are starting the race from first place. We just need to try and convert it now."