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Red Bull chief Christian Horner delighted with Max Verstappen's 'easy' victory over Mercedes at Silverstone

Getty Images
Getty Images

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen after his win at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix - before taunting rivals Mercedes by claiming it was "so easy" to win the race.

Verstappen started fourth on the grid but after leapfrogging Nico Hulkenberg on the first corner, the Dutchman hunted down the two Mercedes on the harder compound tyre.

Through some excellent strategic calls and sheer pace, Verstappen took the lead after Mercedes' troubles with blistering tyres and finished some 11 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton, who passed Valtteri Bottas with two laps to go.

It was a stark contrast to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone seven days ago, when Verstappen finished behind Hamilton's stricken car on the final lap despite the latter's tyre blowout.

And Horner was keen to revel in his team's first triumph in Britain since 2012, even adding that Verstappen was "chilling" at one point in the race.

Christian Horner (front left) celebrates Red Bull's first victory of the 2020 season at Silverstone Photo: Getty Images
Christian Horner (front left) celebrates Red Bull's first victory of the 2020 season at Silverstone Photo: Getty Images

”It was an amazing performance from Max today," Horner told Sky Sports F1.

"The pace in the race was beyond what we expected. The pace in the car… it was just so easy today.

"Max was chilling out at the beginning of the race. It just looked easy. When they pitted, Max was able to pull away and we thought 'it's on now'.

"We just had them covered today. There is a lot for us to understand from this race, the car worked fantastically well and with Alex [Albon] as well. The pace was right there.

Max Verstappen won the race from fourth on the grid Photo: Getty Images
Max Verstappen won the race from fourth on the grid Photo: Getty Images

"Mercedes are running more downforce on their car, a lot more wing than we are carrying and they blistered their tyres five laps after the first pit stop and Max was taking it easy at that point.

"To win the 70th Anniversary race is something special."

The win means Verstappen has climbed above Bottas in the Championship standings and is now Hamilton's closest challenger, with the 22-year-old 30 points adrift after five races.

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