Verstappen convinced RB14 is now 'best car on the grid'

Max Verstappen believes his performance in last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix provided further validation of the quality of Red Bull's RB14 chassis.

While everyone marveled at Lewis Hamilton's outstanding performance in qualifying last Saturday, Verstappen's own achievement on the day at Marina Bay was just as impressive.

The Dutchman secured a spot on the front row alongside the championship leader and ultimately finished second on Sunday, only a handful of seconds behind Hamilton, powered by a Mercedes engine that enjoys a healthy advantage over Red Bull's Renault unit.

"I think we have the best car in the field, as we found out in Singapore," said Verstappen, speaking at a media event held in Holland for sponsor Jumbo supermarkets.

"Of course we hope that next year with a new engine supplier it will continue in the right direction.

"We already have the right people on board, but the whole package is not yet right. That will also be difficult next year, but I hope we will have a real chance the following year."

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For all of Verstappen's criticism of Renault's engine and the niggling mapping issues encountered by the driver in Singapore, Cyril Abiteboul vaunted the merits of the manufacturer's new Spec-C unit used by Red Bull last weekend and which may have also played a role in Verstappen's good performance, with all due respect to the 20-year-old.

"It's quite a good reward for all the effort put into the Spec C, which we know is not perfect given the circumstances," the Renault Sport F1 boss told Motorsport.com.

"But we can see it's capable of delivering a healthy increase of 15kW, which was the expectation, and that's exactly what's happening."

While Verstappen will make the most of his equipment in the remaining races of 2018, the Dutch driver is convinced that Honda, Red Bull's future engine supplier, can deliver the goods next season.

"First of all because of the budget they have, which is many times bigger than that of our current engine supplier," he explained.

"Furthermore, they just go in the right direction, also in terms of test bench results. Moreover, they really, really want to win.

"We already have the mentality to want to win in the team. But now the other side - the engine - still has to be done and we will certainly get that next year."

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