Max Verstappen has fired a warning to Lewis Hamilton ahead of the new season, insisting Red Bull will spend the winter getting their car up to speed for a title challenge. Verstappen is hoping to close the gap to Hamilton, who has already won his sixth world title before the 2019 comes to its conclusion. The Dutch diver knows it won’t be easy but is backing his team to get things right.
Verstappen is currently third in the driver standings but is trying to hold off Charles Leclerc in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi to end with his best finish.
The curtain comes down on the 2019 calendar this weekend in what has been a promising season for Verstappen with three wins and eight podium finishes.
But he’s hoping for more fire power next year, and wants to start next season with a bang.
“We learned a lot throughout the whole season,” Verstappen told Sky Sports News. “What went well and what we did wrong or didn’t do so well.
“We’ll try to work over the winter of course to try and make everything better, the whole package. You can clearly see throughout the end of the year now [Red Bull have been strong], of course in general we have always been like that, but I really have a lot of confidence that it’s not just now.
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“I think we can really transform that into an early start next year. That’s at least the target.”
And when asked about a title challenge he said: “That’s what we are going for. You never know, so it’s 50-50. It’s yes or no.”
Verstappen won in the last outing at Interlagos in Brazil and is pleased with his form going into the last race week.
“Already throughout the last few races we were really improving, so of course very pleased,” said Verstappen.
“Now one more race to go so we’ll try to have a good weekend and try to finish it off with good feelings going into the winter break.”
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Next season will see Hamilton go for a record-equaling seventh world title with Michael Schumacher in his sights.
And Hamilton spoke recently about the influence he can have on this generation of race fans due to his continued success.
“I am trying to have a positive impact,” he said. “I looked at Ayrton Senna. He was a star in the sky and I want to somehow get up there.
“It is important to find people like that and that is what I am trying to be.
“If you look at young kids they are pure spirits. We are not born to hate or have negativity in our hearts.
“That is something we learn over time. It is passed to us by our parents, and whatever issues they have going on, and through people you interact with.
“It is always really important to stay true to your core values, and I am really fortunate that I have this amazing platform, that I never thought I would have. I am trying to be the best person I can.”