Verstappen not expecting miracles in Suzuka

Max Verstappen hasn't had the best of times since the summer break and he isn't expecting it to get any easier in Suzuka admitting he doesn't know if he can realistically target the race win.

Verstappen had been debatably driver of the year before the summer break, winning two races in Austria and Germany before achieving his first-ever pole position in F1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, he failed to finish in Belgium and finished eighth in Italy and wasn't able to compete for victory in Russia but he did manage to podium in Singapore.

Formula 1 heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix next time out but the Dutchman has admitted he isn't expecting an easy ride. 

"I would not like to create false hopes," Max Verstappen told De Telegraaf

"I do not expect it to be a magical weekend at Suzuka. We are not competitive like Mercedes and Ferrari. I don't know if I can aim for victory, we'll see what happens.

Max also reflected on the Russian Grand Prix, adding: "It was a very boring race, weekends like the one in Sochi are not the best for us, but sometimes you can't do better than this. It's part of the game. You can only give as much as you can because there are elements that cannot be controlled."