Verstappen plays down gap to Ricciardo
Max Verstappen says he is not worried about the gap to team-mate Daniel Ricciardo following qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, although he believes he could have beaten the Aussie to the final position on the second row.
Verstappen will start Sunday's race at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve from fifth position, his best lap in the top-ten shootout a 1 minute 13.414 seconds, which left him 0.248secs off the sister Red Bull RB12.
"We could have been fourth, but definitely not third, but it was okay. I've enjoyed it in general, the whole weekend, so far. Of course we wish to be a little bit closer to the Mercedes', but on the other hand we are also not too far off," Verstappen said
"I don't think it is a big gap [to my team-mate either], it is just my last run didn't really work out. We had a bit too much oversteer and then with all those long combined corners, if you have a bit of oversteer that doesn't help.
"Before that we were making good progress. I am not too worried about that [being behind Ricciardo]. I am next to a very experienced driver and I think he is probably one of the best on the grid. So to be that close in my third race, I think many people start to forget that. I won my first race but that doesn't mean I am straight up to the pace I want to be.
"I am still learning and this will be a learning year, even though I won a race. Like I have said, I have to get use to the car and get everything out of it."
Meanwhile, Verstappen admitted he was a bit surprised to see Ferraris Sebastian Vettel go third, although he reckons in the race Red Bull will be closer.
"It is a little bit surprising that Sebastian pulled out such a good lap at the end. We are two or three tenths behind, but in the race we should be a bit closer," he confirmed. "They can turn up their engines a bit more for qualifying. Still a lot of chances for tomorrow.
"[Our race pace is] quite good. I think our car is quite good in the race. Hopefully with a little bit of rain that will help us out..."
