Verstappen unsure of catching Leclerc for P3 in championship

Max Verstappen remains unsure he will be able to make up the points gap to Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc in the fight for third in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship through the final two races of the 2019 season.

Red Bull driver Verstappen currently sits fourth in the standings, 14 points shy of Leclerc after taking two race wins through the year to date.

Verstappen was able to overhaul Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate, Sebastian Vettel, for P4 in the championship last weekend in Austin, as well as gaining three points on Leclerc.

But the Dutchman is unsure he will be able to make up enough points through the remaining races in Brazil and Abu Dhabi to clinch P3 in the final championship, and improve on his career-best of fourth in 2018.

“I think the gap to third is quite big. It might be a little bit too big to close, but let’s see,” Verstappen said after the race in Austin.

“Today was good for that. But of course my last few races we lost so many points, that was not ideal. I expect we will be competitive in the last two races so let’s see how it will all work out for us.

“It is of course always better to finish third than fourth or fifth, even though I think everybody wants to be first, but we will try everything we can.”

Verstappen sat 49 points clear of Leclerc following the Hungarian Grand Prix at the beginning of August, only for their respective form to turn around since the summer break.

While Verstappen has failed to add to his two race wins, only featuring on the podium twice, Leclerc has racked up two victories, two further podiums and five pole positions to put himself in the frame for third behind the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.