Verstappen wants a Red Bull-Honda capable of competing with Mercedes from Melbourne

By finishing in a convincing 2nd place behind the untouchable Lewis Hamilton under the projectors of Yas Marina, Max Verstappen concludes a convincing 2019 campaign on the final podium of the championship, ahead of both drivers Ferrari. 

A result that few would have expected after the winter tests and which owes as much to the solidity of the package Red Bull-Honda that the talent of the Dutchman behind the wheel. 

After a very regular first half of the season but only marked by places of honor, the Verstappen-Red Bull alloy accelerated the pace from the Austrian Grand Prix and ended the year with 3 successes, 2 pole positions , and 9 podiums in the end.

« It was a good season with several victories and a few poles to boot., commented the Batavian from Abu Dhabi. We have made a lot of progress, both chassis and engine side, with Honda. I am very happy about it. We must now build on this momentum to continue improving the car and the engine and aim for the forefront from the first race of the season and not from mid-season or at the end of the year. ». 

Placed on the front row on the Abu Dhabi grid, Verstappen certainly slipped behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc during the first lap but he was able to regain his position quite easily thanks to a better racing pace, despite a few engine alerts after his only pit-stop. 

« Our pace wasn't bad but Mercedes and Lewis were just too fast today, analyzed the Red Bull driver. I encountered a few problems: the car sometimes refused to do what I wanted but it didn't make much difference in the end. ». 

Like many top drivers, Verstappen is coming to the end of his contract at the end of next season. Red Bull and Honda know what they have to do to convince him to leave his bags in Milton Keynes.