Max Verstappen celebrates at the Austrian Grand Prix (Image credit: Getty)
Red Bull racer Max Verstappen is confident of a great showing ahead of the 2020 F1 season.
The 22-year-old Dutch star finished a career-best third in the driver’s championship last season but Red Bull, and the other competitors, were far behind Mercedes for most of the season.
Lewis Hamilton was only troubled by Valtteri Bottas in the race for the crown, and Red Bull even finished behind Ferrari in the constructor’s standings.
This was the first season with Honda powering Red Bull and they did do a decent job with Verstappen picking up three wins.
However, the Mercedes engine is the best in the paddock but Verstappen highlighted that being within two-tenths of the Germans could be enough to challenge them in the long run (h/t Sky Sports):
“If we start the season within two tenths (of Mercedes), we can mount the pressure. I am looking forward to when we get that fight and if we are really close I am pretty sure we can do better.”
Verstappen went on to say that Hamilton is one of the best in the circuit but he “was not God” and “maybe God is with him”.
However, the Dutch star claimed that putting pressure on Hamilton could see the Englishman crack:
“When you can put the pressure on it is a lot harder for the guy in the lead. If he never really has pressure, he can drive at 97 or 98 per cent and then you never make mistakes.”
The 22-year-old also signed a new deal during the off-season to stay at Red Bull till 2023. There was a lot of speculation regarding his future during the previous campaign, but the Dutchman added that this was the right move for his future:
“I feel good,” he added to Sky F1. “I think it was the right decision to stay and for everyone it was better.
“It takes any question mark away, no one is asking anymore about those kind of things so you just go into the season fully motivated and we know also in the coming years we are working together. It’s just a great thing.”
Verstappen was excellent in some faces as he battled Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for race wins. It will be interesting to see if Honda can provide a quality engine to Red Bull, and if they can win their first title since 2013.
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