We need to seize every chance early on - Verstappen

Max Verstappen is not getting carried away with talk Toro Rosso could beat the premier Red Bull team in 2016. With the junior Faenza squad switching to Ferrari power but Red Bull Racing staying with Renault this year, it is suggested Toro Rosso could be higher on the grid. "At the start of the year, yes," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Toro Rosso's 18-year-old sensation Verstappen, however, is keeping his expectations in check. "Normally, Red Bull should be ahead of us," the Dutchman told his official website verstappen.nl. "Red Bull still has one of the best cars. For sure, at the end of last year, they were quicker than we were, so I think that they are still capable of being fast again," Verstappen added. "But it is hard to say because they have a different package and also a different engine."

He is therefore wary that, no matter how the year starts, Toro Rosso could ultimately be overtaken as its late 2015-spec Ferrari engine is out-developed by rivals. "That is a possibility, I guess," said Verstappen. "We have an engine that is not developed any further as opposed to most of the teams that have developed theirs. It's a pity, but we certainly need to seize every moment we can in the first couple of races," he added.

Finally, Verstappen said that even though the FIA added multiple penalty points to his super license last year, he will not pull back his aggressive driving style. "To have that many (penalty points) I think is quite strange," he said. "But I will not race less hard or differently. I'll just floor it." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (28)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar