Verstappen hopeful of reeling in Mercedes

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Max Verstappen concedes that Mercedes still has the upper hand, but he's also convinced that Red Bull is slowly but surely bridging the gap.

It was pretty much a status quo at the top of the timesheets in Barcelona this week compared with where 2016 ended, with Mercedes' Silver Arrows still leading the pack.

But for the Milton Keynes outfit to catch up with its dominant rival, it will mostly have to rely on engine partner Renault to do the work. And Verstappen is confidant the French manufacturer will step up to the challenge.

"For sure they (Mercedes) still will have an advantage over us in the beginning of the season, power-wise, but I think we are definitely catching up," said the 19-year-old Dutch prodigy.

Red Bull's workload at the Circuit de Catalunya focused mainly on reliability and car discovery, but updates are already in the works for next week, according to Verstappen.

"I think for sure the most important thing for us was trying and make mileage and seeing if all the parts were holding on. I think everything has been behaving pretty well.

"I think for us it was very positive. We've done quite a bit of mileage and also for me to get used to the car and also the whole team to understand the new type of car. I think we did a good job."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.