Max Verstappen’s dominance in Formula One has been criticized as “boring,” but Christian Horner has responded by calling the driver’s incredible form a “golden moment.”

With a strong performance at Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen secured his fourth victory in the five rounds this season and opened up a 25-point lead in the title.

The Dutch driver is the clear favorite to win a fourth world championship in as many seasons, having only lost two of the previous 23 races in the sport.

Speaking before of Sunday’s race, Verstappen’s Shanghai finisher, Lando Norris, acknowledged that it is “boring” and a “turn-off” for viewers to watch the “same driver win without a fight.”

However, Red Bull team chief Horner responded to criticism that Verstappen’s supremacy is harming the sport by saying, “You have to appreciate success.” Max is a unique talent, and now is his big chance.

‘As we have seen with every single driver in the past, it doesn’t last forever. It is about enjoying the moment and being in the moment and there are no guarantees we can give him a car like this for the next five years.

‘Max is just a metronome. The pace he showed last year, he has continued that through.

‘And since the last Chinese Grand Prix in 2019, he has won 50 per cent of all the races. He has won 21 out of the last 23 races. He is in fantastic form, at one with the car and the team and enjoying his racing.’

In Shanghai, Verstappen also emerged victorious in the season’s opening sprint round.

This year’s rejig was holding prior to qualifying for Sunday’s major event—the dash to the chequered flag.

Although he acknowledged that the current schedule is better than in previous years, Verstappen, 26, who has frequently criticized the structure, encouraged F1 executives not to raise the number of sprints, which is fixed at six this season.

‘The sprint format was more straightforward that it has been but let’s not overdo it,’ said the triple world champion.

‘We are already doing 24 races in a season and six of these sprint events, too. I guess it sells better and the television audience numbers increase, but it also increases the pressure on the mechanics to ensure everything is tip-top.

‘So, we have to deal with it, but let’s not now think that we need 12 of these (sprints) because it will take its toll on people in the sport.’