Verstappen not setting any goals for remainder of 2019

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Max Verstappen is happy with Red Bull Racing and Honda's progress year to date, but the Dutchman isn't setting himself any goals for the remainder of the season, preferring to take things one race at a time.

On the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen currently sits fourth in the drivers' championship, with a track record consisting of two podiums and four fourth-place finishes.

While Red Bull and Honda are working hard to challenge Mercedes' supremacy, Verstappen casts a positive assessment on what his team has achieved so far in 2019.

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"I think it’s been going quite well," Verstappen told his official website. "We’ve maximised our results so far, so we can’t really complain.

"Of course we always want to win and we’re not in a winning position yet, but we’re all pushing really hard to be able to do that soon.

"The team is third in the championship and we are just maximising our potential, which is always very positive, as most of the time there’s always something that goes wrong.

"It’s never that easy to nail everything, so I think we are doing quite well."

With each passing race, the Red Bull-Honda package appears to be gaining strength. Coupled with Verstappen's skill and motivation, the combo isn't perhaps far off from cracking its first win.

Yet the 21-year-old is shying away from any bold projections for the remainder of the season.

"It’s very difficult to anticipate," he added.

"We know that we have to improve, but things can change from track to track. There are places where you are naturally a bit more competitive than at others.

"From my experience, what always works best is to wait and see and don’t set a lot of goals.

"Just work hard and approach every single weekend as an opportunity to win, and we’ll find out at the end of the season how it went."

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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.