Max Verstappen is wary, but not worried, of a Ferrari resurgence as he and his Red Bull team battle against the Reds for the ‘best of the rest’ accolade with four races remaining in the 2016 Formula 1 World Championship.
Speaking to journalists in Austin, ahead of the United States Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen said, “We have to stay awake, we have a good points advantage compared to them. Of course they will be strong, the last few races they’ve always been strong and maybe sometimes a bit unlucky.”
“I’m not too worried, we still have a great car as well, and as you could see in the race we had very good pace, let’s see what happens on this track.”
Verstappen drove an excellent race last time out in Japan, finishing second and fending off a late race challenge by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
The Dutch teenager defended in what has become his trademark robust style and Mercedes filed a protest which Hamilton insisted they drop.
Verstappen said of the post Suzuka race saga, “I don’t think about it. I just do my race and from there on I’m just fighting for position so I think a lot of people would do the same.”
Verstappen believes his Suzuka race was one of the best of his career, “I felt very happy with the performance in general over the whole weekend as well, we were always up there and I’m very happy with the ending.”