Verstappen happy with 'smooth' F1 debut at Hockenheim

Max Verstappen says he is that pleased that his first time driving a Formula One car around Hockenheim went smoothly, with the Red Bull ace heading team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in free practice for the German Grand Prix.

The Dutchman took the sport by storm last year and has since gone on to become the youngest ever race winner.

However, with Germany not featuring on the 2015 calendar, Verstappen had yet to turn an F1 wheel in anger at the Baden-Württemberg venue, though he won here during his sensational 2014 F3 campaign.

The 18-year-old did not hang about to get on pace, as he led Red Bull’s charge in both FP1 and FP2, slotting into fourth and fifth respectively.

“I think it was a pretty good day for me, you know the first time in a Formula One car here so everything went quite smoothly and I think in the long runs it was all pretty positive,” Verstappen said.

“We knew Ferrari would come closer to us because it’s a better track for them in general but still we’re not too far off to Mercedes.”

F1’s rising star has come under fire for his robust defending against Kimi Raikkonen in Hungary last weekend, with the topic set to be raised during Friday evening's Drivers’ briefing in Germany.

Asked whether he expected a fiery reception from his fellow pilots, Verstappen coolly replied:

“I don’t need to defend myself. Because I am confident and I think I did not do anything. I mean they can talk to me it’s fine.

“No pressure, they can talk, it’s alright.”

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