Verstappen: Motivation intact despite Mercedes supremacy

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Red Bull's Max Verstappen says it would be "stupid" to question his motivation because of Mercedes' supremacy, insisting he still has "one of the best jobs in the world".

Verstappen has done his best to challenge his Mercedes rivals this season, finishing on the podium in every race save for the opening round in Austria and winning the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone.

However, on pure speed, Red Bull's RB16 remains outpaced by Mercedes' W11, limiting for now Verstappen's burning ambitions. Yet the Dutchman's motivation is as strong as ever, and any suggestion to the contrary upsets the Red Bull charger.

©RedBull

"I don't understand why people think you wouldn't be motivated," he said in Monza ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

"You have one of the best jobs in the world, you're driving super-fast cars. And I'm driving third or second, and I had one win. So I find it incredible that people think you wouldn't be motivated.

"It's really stupid. I love what I'm doing. Every weekend I come here and I love driving the car, and I want to of course try to challenge them.

"But if it's not possible I settle for the best result possible in the car I have, and then I'm still enjoying it."

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Both Helmut Marko and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believe that Verstappen is still a contender for the world championship. But Verstappen has a realistic view on his bosses' assertions.

"Well, we won't give up, but I'm very realistic that at the moment we're just too slow. We need luck to win races and actually gain some points back," he said.

"Like at the moment it looks like we're still in a championship fight, but every race I'm more or less losing seven points, so at one point it will of course be very big, the gap. Like I said, just being realistic, I think it's good.

"But every single weekend I try to of course get the best out of it. I mean, it's not like I'm down or anything, but be realistic. I think in Spa again, we were half a second slower a lap, compared to them, so you can't really fight them at the moment."

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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.