After Leclerc spun in the chicane on his first lap in Q3, the Ferrari driver stepped up to make a stunning second lap to lower Verstappen.
Verstappen saw that his chance for revenge evaporated when he announced a loss of power in Sector One, but according to team leader Horner, a problem with the DRS was the reason for the Dutchman’s loss of speed.
“It wasn’t really a power supply. In the end, it was the DRS that didn’t open,” Horner told Sky Sports.
“So obviously we have to return the car to find out what caused it, because it opened right in the back as a check when I got back to the pits.”
While Leclerc and Verstappen seemed equal until the Red Bull problem robbed fans of a fair fight, Horner didn’t think his driver would have enough to beat the Ferrari championship leader on his last lap.
“I don’t think we had enough today to beat this tour of Charles. Great tour of it under tension at the end.
“But yes, I’m still happy with the start of the first row,” he said, acknowledging that Ferrari’s many improvements for Barcelona have given him an advantage.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
The Verstappen DRS problem isn’t the first gremlin to hit Red Bull this season, but Horner doesn’t think there’s any cause for concern.
“You know, these things tend to happen,” he added. “We saw Ferrari change the chassis last night due to a fuel system problem.
“Unfortunately, this hit us in awkward moments, the last time you want it is in the last performance in Q3. But as a team, we work hard, we try to understand what the problem is. It may be as simple as a piece of rubber stuck in the mechanism.
“It was unfortunate that we didn’t have the right to answer there, because I don’t think we would have beaten Charles today, but I think we would have been closer than the times suggest.
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