Tanabe: 'Can be optimistic about Sunday's chances'

Technical director of Honda Toyoharu Tanabe has every reason to be optimistic about the chances in the Spanish Grand Prix. Max Verstappen qualified second on Saturday and with that Tanabe hopes to secure a victory.

Verstappen was a close second to starting from pole in Sunday's Spanish GP: "With Max second on the grid for Red Bull Racing Honda and a gap of just 0.036 seconds from pole, we can be optimistic about tomorrow with the definite possibility of being able to aim for the win," Tanabe revealed via Honda's Twitter channel.

Sergio Perez had a poor qualifying, but Tanabe still believes in a good result for the Mexican: "Sergio was a bit further back than usual, but we know how good he is on Sunday. We can expect him to move up a few places."

After qualifying, Perez revealed that he has not been feeling fully fit all day. The Mexican driver is said to be suffering from his shoulder but thinks he will be fit enough to race on Sunday.