Max Verstappen: “Be efficient from the start of the season”

3rd for the first time in his career in the final ranking of a World Championship season F1, Max Verstappen doesn't seem full. The Dutchman, winner of three Grands Prix in 2019 (Austria, Germany and Brazil) intends to ride a successful end of the campaign to play the leading roles in 2020.

For this, the former resident of the FIA ​​European Championship F3 knows that he will need to benefit from an alliance Red Bull – Honda at its best.  “We hope to be more competitive next year, commented Verstappen at the FIA ​​awards press conference.

You have to be from the start of the season to be able to fight for the title. This is where we will put all our energy. It won't be easy, the competition is strong, but the team has shown in the past that it can do it. We are moving forward and doing everything we can. »

Logically questioned about his future as the end of his contract approaches, the Dutchman does not seem in a hurry to make his choice, just like Lewis Hamilton admitted at this same press conference.

“The most important thing is to see what will happen at the start of the year, advances Verstappen. From there, we'll see what happens. » The message for the Red Bull – Honda clan therefore seems to have passed, and if the Milton Keynes creations appear generally successful, the engine side will have to confirm its encouraging season in 2019.

“We had support from other departments within Honda, so the whole company played a part in improving our performance this year, recalled Toyoharu Tanabe, Technical Director of Honda, in Abu Dhabi.

This year has been encouraging, but what we have achieved this season is not yet where we want to be, so we will continue to push to improve. »