Max Verstappen

Verstappen: No guarantees Red Bull are better in 2021

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks in a press conference following the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 13, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Max Verstappen said there is “no guarantee” that Red Bull Racing will be more competitive during the 2021 Formula season.

The 23-year-old finished third in the drivers’ standings during the 2020 campaign, earning two victories and nine podium finishes.

However, he ended the year 133 points behind world champion Lewis Hamilton, with his team unable to challenge Mercedes for race victories on a regular basis despite early-season optimism.

Asked if he felt that Red Bull could have caused Mercedes more problems, Verstappen said: “Yeah, maybe a few but it wouldn’t have mattered a lot, we wouldn’t have won the championship.

“But of course, there are always moments we could have maybe gotten on top but at the end, still, as a team, we did a good job recovering from the beginning of the year where we had some issues with the car to where we ended the season.

“There is no guarantee of course, that we will do well next year and for sure there are still a lot of areas we have to improve in.”

The Dutchman will be joined by new teammate Sergio Perez in 2021, with the former Racing Point driver replacing Alex Albon after the 24-year-old endured a tough campaign in the second Red Bull seat.