Max Verstappen ended the 2018 season with a career-best streak of five podiums. And the Dutchman feels he can continue momentum going into Red Bull Racing’s first Honda-powered season.
The 21-year-old F1 driver has been very critical of Renault over the years, especially in last season, and many are wondering what will happen with Honda if the Japanese manufacturer has not yet solved its reliability problems entirely.
“I never intended to shoot them, but I wanted to make them progress. Of course, we now have an agreement with Honda, but if we continued with Renault next year, I would have liked us to progress.” Verstappen said.
“I’m just very clear in what I say, I can also say that they can relax, but I’m not like that, it can and must be better and I just want a total commitment open to criticism, that’s how I grew up, I’m sorry if they can not cope with that but I want to win and for that, all parties must get involved.” he added.
Verstappen, however, he admits to expecting a difficult first season for the collaboration between Red Bull and the Japanese manufacturer.
“I hope that it will be a long-term collaboration. Of course, I do not expect not at a flawless season. I do not expect everything to be all right at once, I will always have expectations, but we have to believe in the project, we cannot be impatient with Honda right after four years. It did not work, you reach your limits and it explodes, but it’s different with Honda.” Verstappen said,
Max Verstappen expects Honda progress in 2019. (Source:www.redbull.com)
Verstappen expects some progress from the engine, and therefore a little better level over the season. Meanwhile he rejected paddock suggestions that Red Bull is grossly overstating the progress Honda has made in 2018 with Toro Rosso.
“I do not expect that we can really fight for the championship soon the beginning of the season, but if we are just a little better than this year, we can fight at the best level.” Verstappen said.
“Personally, I can do a very regular season like Lewis did, it’s a lot better for the championship, you do not have to have the best car.” Verstappen added.
