Verstappen was surprised during final run: 'I lost a lot of time'

This weekend the second sprint race of the season is scheduled. Max Verstappen hopes to overtake the Mercedes drivers here, but according to the Dutchman Mercedes is very strong and they didn't even show everything.

The difference in power between Mercedes and Red Bull is evident. "That 347 [kilometres per hour] is in the full slipstream. In general, they [Mercedes] go 338 and we go 334. There is four or five kilometres between us and of course we are already driving with less wing. That gap is normally bigger, but you also saw that Bottas actually drove that lap alone. If I had done my lap alone I would have been two or three tenths slower," Verstappen told Formula 1 Café.

The teamwork between Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez ensured that the Dutchman finished in third place. Still, the Dutchman was surprised by the slower speed of the Red Bull. "We were a bit surprised with that last run. I was the second car and I lost six or seven hundredths to the first corner compared to the fifth or sixth car in line. Those cars are very sensitive to slipstream and especially if you are a bit short on the straights you try to optimize that of course. You also see how much Mercedes has left on this track, because if you can drive a lap on pole position all by yourself, then you are really strong."

Red Bull won't find much more pace

Verstappen is happy with the balance, but the grip could have been better. "Balance in itself is okay, just the grip I would have preferred a bit higher. I just don't think there's any more in it on pure pace this weekend. Tomorrow we will do those long runs before going into the race. Trying to fine tune a bit, but obviously you're not going to find four or five tenths."