Have you had any sort of indication when you’ll know the plans for next year? Have McLaren given any timeframe?
“No, I don’t know when it’s going to be. I know more or less when I want to know when things are going to move. I talk a lot with Ron [Dennis] and Eric [Boullier] at every grand prix I’m at and even at the factory. So I’m trying to push as hard as I can. I think having had the chance in Bahrain to race the car has maybe helped a bit, but at the moment there’s nothing decided yet. Hopefully the decision comes sooner rather than later.”
Eric Boullier mentioned after Bahrain you had received interest from other teams as a result of showing what you could do, has that given you more confidence to think there’s going to be an opportunity for you somewhere in F1 next year?
“Well I feel very confident about my chances for next year. Obviously I have a contract with McLaren and I’ve been with this team for a long time, so this is definitely my main priority to get a race seat here. But if for some reason it doesn’t work out then I feel confident that there’s opportunities elsewhere.”
What did you make of this last weekend in F1? Max stepping up to Red Bull and then winning…
“Yup… He’s had a dream debut with Red Bull I guess. I think it was a bit unexpected for everybody. Obviously he’s done the job in the car, he qualified just behind his team-mate Ricciardo and had a very solid opening of the race being very close behind. He didn’t really put a foot wrong and with some strategy differences between cars I think he managed to get in to a strong position for the victory and that’s how it panned out.”
When you’re a young driver watching that, does it make you impatient to get to F1 or does it make you pleased that it shows what a young driver can do given the right chance?
“I think it is good for F1 to see young drivers perform that well because it shows they can jump in a competitive car and compete near the front as well. I don’t say everybody can do that, but it shows some of the more established younger drivers who have performed in the junior series can do that as well. It’s just good to see.”
FEATURE: Combined Barcelona testing times
REPORT: Verstappen sets the pace on second day of Barcelona test
Scene at the Spanish Grand Prix
Spanish Grand Prix - Quotes of the weekend
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