F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Verstappen hopes Red Bull can run Mercedes ‘very close’

Max Verstappen says he hopes Red Bull can be “very close” to Mercedes at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix after performing better than expected at venues that should not have suited his RB12.

The Dutchman kept Mercedes' Nico Rosberg honest throughout the Silverstone race last time out, while the Milton Keynes-based outfit eclipsed Ferrari as the second-best team in the pecking order.

Given its chassis prowess and Daniel Ricciardo’s performance in Monaco, Red Bull has been tipped as a genuine contender for victory on the Hungaroring’s tight and twisty layout.

“I think our best chance was in Monaco for sure but here as well the car can be very strong,” Verstappen said in Thursday’s FIA press conference in Budapest.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the weekend because so far the car has been pretty strong even on tracks where we did not expect it to be that strong.

“You just have to wait and see. Let’s see now how we can improve during the sessions but hopefully we can be very close [to Mercedes].”

Since his fast track promotion from Toro Rosso ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen has been the second-highest points scorer behind only Lewis Hamilton with a win and two additional podiums.

Prior to the season, the 18-year-old set himself the target of amassing 100 points. With this goal almost fulfilled - Verstappen currently has 90 to his name - the Dutchman was recently quoted as saying he was eyeing P3 in the final classification.

“We’re pretty close but we’ll see where we end up at the end of the season,” he added in Budapest. “We’ll be in between third and six, hopefully.

“You try to do the best possible job every race and we’ll see where are.”

Verstappen currently occupies sixth in the Drivers’ standings, 16 points adrift of third-placed Kimi Raikkonen.

Romain Grosjean column: Safety car starts and summer breaks

Chris Medland's 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix preview

Technical snapshot - Silverstone

TECHNICAL: Under the skin of the Mercedes W07

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Aston Martin says performance shortfall led to Fallows exit

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has shed some light on why the team’s former…

9 hours ago

FIA clamps down on plank loophole after Red Bull complaint

The FIA has issued a pivotal Technical Directive to F1 teams ahead of this weekend’s…

10 hours ago

F1 drivers blindsided by race director Wittich’s sudden exit

The abrupt removal last week of FIA race director Niels Wittich with just three races…

12 hours ago

McLaren relaxes ‘papaya rules’: Norris and Piastri free to race

Oscar Piastri has confirmed that McLaren’s team orders—dubbed the "Papaya Rules"—have been largely relaxed, giving…

13 hours ago

Cheers to the forever young pure racer Jacques Laffite

The forever young Jacques Laffite turns 81 today, but the years haven't aged this pure…

14 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Wednesday's build-up in pictures

The neon lights of Las Vegas are set to illuminate the Formula 1 world once…

15 hours ago