Verstappen: “We want to catch up with Ferrari and Mercedes”

The young Dutchman always has the big goal for Red Bull in Formula 1 in mind: “We want to catch up with Ferrari and Mercedes.”

Max Verstappen would be happy to forego another chaos in Baku. “I would prefer a really boring race and be one minute in the lead,” said the 21-year-old. Last year, the Red Bull duo was eliminated after 40 laps after Ricciardo hit the back of the Dutchman while trying to overtake. Red Bull blamed both drivers equally for the accident.

In third place, Verstappen is currently the first World Cup pursuer of the “Silver Arrows” duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Before the season, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had predicted a three-way battle for the title in which Verstappen would be involved. The fact that after the three races they are ahead of Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc is quite surprising, especially since Red Bull's Honda engine is not yet working as it should.

Verstappen: “We need updates” “We need updates so that we can exploit the full potential of the car,” said Verstappen. That's why the drive is changed in Baku. It is the first of four expansion stages, which should initially bring around 20 hp more. On the street circuit on the Caspian Sea, this helps to avoid losing too much time against the superior Ferrari engine on the more than two kilometer long straight.

The Italians had “done a very good job,” Verstappen had to admit. “We have a lot of parts in stock that will hopefully bring us closer to the top in the coming weeks and months,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

It is certainly possible that Verstappen will now achieve his first win of the season in Baku after a third and two fourth places at the start, but he expects a tough battle on the accident-prone circuit: “We have to approach it conservatively, then anything is possible. We just want to have a good weekend.” The team wants to build on the golden years from 2010 to 2013, when Sebastian Vettel became world champion four times. But with the start of the hybrid era in 2014, the problems increased and quarrels arose with former engine partner Renault. Verstappen, in his fifth season in the premier class, is not the only one who expects a lot from switching to the Japanese manufacturer Honda this year. Verstappen entered Formula 17 at the age of 1 The super talent has won five races since becoming the youngest driver in history to enter Formula 2015 in 17 at the age of just 1, but Verstappen still has to establish himself as a permanent rival for defending champion Hamilton and Co. in the world championship fight. “You learn with every race and get more experience in all racing situations. Things are going very well for me,” said Verstappen in the paddock in Baku.

In the winter he still had to complete motorsport social hours after he was noticed as an uncompromising bully in the past. Nowadays, however, he seems to be concentrating more and more on the essentials. Verstappen even serves as a teacher to his French teammate Pierre Gasly, who is two years older than him. “He rides really hard. He is a good help for the team, but also for me to see what I can do differently,” said Gasly, who, unlike Verstappen, has not yet reached the top field.

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Verstappen: “We want to catch up with Ferrari and Mercedes”

Max Verstappen competes in Baku as Mercedes' first World Cup chaser. After the internal Red Bull collision between him and Daniel Ricciardo in 2018, it should be enough for a top placing again on Sunday (14.10:XNUMX p.m.).

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