Verstappen. "Hope we can stay close to Mercedes"

For Max Verstappen, the first lap will be of enormous importance today. The circuit in Barcelona is known to be difficult for overtaking, so in the first lap the Dutchman has to try to win places in the chaos compared to Mercedes. In a livestream of Formula 1 the Red Bull Racing driver says he doesn't feel any excitement yet.

"I'm actually always relaxed. It's all good, it's nice and warm," Verstappen says. The driver starts on the softest tyre, where he doesn't differ from Mercedes, unlike at Silverstone. "Of course you can't change it now. It is what it is. We just have to try to put pressure on them."

Stay close to Mercedes

Verstappen cannot yet estimate how the first lap will go. "I really wouldn't know that yet. The important thing is that we get a good start and then we'll see how it goes. Friday looked good, but today is different again. The track conditions are of course different, but I'm certainly looking forward to it".

"As I said before, I just hope I can stay close to Mercedes, then I can be excited". When Verstappen is asked to tell something else in Dutch, he says he doesn't want to at first. "I really don't like that", the Dutchman says jokingly. "I hope it will be a nice race and hope of course that we can participate for the victory", the Dutchman finally says.