Verstappen unsure Honda can fight Mercedes, Ferrari at start of 2019

Max Verstappen says he’s unsure whether Honda can find enough updates to be instantly competitive against the top two teams Mercedes and Ferrari at the start of 2019 but has hope for ‘other opportunities’.

Following last month’s confirmation from Red Bull that it would switch to Honda power from 2019, joining sister squad Toro Rosso in ditching Renault, the team sees it as its best chance to fight against its factory-backed rivals as a works-supported squad with the Japanese manufacturer.

Verstappen, who signed a long-term deal with Red Bull late last year before the Honda agreement was finalised, has backed his teams’ plans for 2019 but accepts its challenge at the front of the F1 field may take time to establish.

“I hope from now until the beginning of next season they [Honda] will keep improving quite a bit which I am confident they can do,” Verstappen said. “If it is going to be enough initially to fight with Mercedes and Ferrari at the start I am not sure but it gives us other opportunities as well. Let’s see.”

Assessing Red Bull’s outlook on the remainder of this F1 season with Renault, Verstappen hasn’t pushed the blame on the French engine supplier for not delivering on promises to catch Mercedes and Ferrari. Reports emerged from the last race at Silverstone that Renault’s engine was around 70 to 80 horsepower off the top two.

“I wish that we had more horsepower but that’s how it is,” he said. “The other ones are not standing still so you really have to make a significant step from one year to the other to catch up.

“I knew what was coming in the middle of the season which was not going to be enough, so that’s how it is.”