Horner: New engine key to Red Bull's Montreal resurgence

London - Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says Montreal was proof that the team is right back on track.

After a resurgent showing for the former world champions at the Spanish and Monaco Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo warned that whether Renault's engine upgrade had really delivered would only be clear on the long straights at the Canadian GP.

Fourth-place finish for Verstappen

Max Verstappen duly finished fourth in Montreal, but the real test was the way he fended off the advances of Mercedes' recovering championship leader Nico Rosberg.

Horner is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport: "A few months ago Rosberg would have flown straight past with his DRS on the straight. 

"Last year we got beaten up but now we can defend ourselves."

Red Bull (130pts) have more than twice as many points after 7 races as they did in 2015 (54) #F1FastFact pic.twitter.com/Xai2mbZTvZ

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 14, 2016

Horner added: "We lost only 3 tenths in qualifying - this latest engine is like another world. In terms of power we are 6km/h up compared to what we had before."

Canada also hosted a 'comeback' for young Verstappen, after an horror outing in Barcelona with two crashes. It was also a firm rebuke to Mercedes' Toto Wolff, who had questioned the 18-year-old's maturity.

"It's incredible how Max reacted," Horner said, just as Verstappen was voted by the fans as the official 'driver of the day' on Sunday (June 12).

The votes are in and your #F1DriverOfTheDay for the #CanadianGP is... https://t.co/Nf2aGFjuNm

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 13, 2016

Even Wolff's fellow Mercedes chief Niki Lauda admitted he was impressed by Max in Montreal.

The Austrian said: "Verstappen showed what he can do, he drives like an old man although he's still so young."