Verstappen: Red Bull needs to be within 0.3s of Mercedes

Red Bull needs to be within 0.3s of Mercedes’ one-lap pace in order to challenge for victories during the 2018 Formula 1 season, according to Max Verstappen. 

The Milton Keynes based squad endured a mixed campaign last year and often lagged behind rivals Mercedes and Ferrari, particularly in qualifying trim. Significant development gains made during the second half of the campaign allowed Red Bull to claim two of its three victories in 2017 in the closing stages of the year as it closed the gap.

But Verstappen says Red Bull needs to find further gains over one-lap if it is to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari for race wins on a regular basis throughout 2018. 

“We have to be closer,” the Dutchman explained. “Once you are within three or four tenths in qualifying, at least you can fight them in the race because normally in the race it should be a bit closer. We are definitely targeting to be in those three tenths.”

There are suggestions in the paddock that Red Bull is trading off some downforce for straight-line speed gains, given the horsepower deficit the team has had compared to Mercedes and Ferrari in recent years. 

When asked if that was the case with its RB14, Verstappen replied: “Maybe.

“From the beginning of 2017 to the end our car was already a massive difference, so we expect to be a lot closer. 

“I don’t know how close we will be, but we will find out in practice and qualifying in Melbourne.”

Red Bull focused on long runs on the penultimate day of pre-season testing on Thursday, as Verstappen recorded 187 laps around Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

“From my feeling it [the long run pace] was actually alright, but we have to wait and see. Melbourne is a different track again. But I think we can be happy.

“The most important for us is to look ourselves, to improve the car, and to do a lot of laps, and that is what we did today.”