Max Verstappen denied any concerns over his rivals’ upgrade plan, while talking up Red Bull team’s capacity to keep developing their RB18.
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Max Verstappen is the form driver in Formula One right now, coming into the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on the heels of triumphs in the past two races and the enviable distinction of having won every race he’s entered so far in 2022. Verstappen downplayed any concerns he had over his rivals’ upgrade plan, while talking up his own Red Bull team’s capacity to keep developing their RB18. Ferrari are set to unleash the first major upgrade to their constructors’ championship-leading F1-75 this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen was convinced that Red Bull, which has been drip-feeding parts onto the RB18 so far this year, will be able to dominate the development fight as Ferrari will compete in Barcelona with an improved F1-75. “There’s plenty left in the tank! There’s always things we can do better, and I think at the moment the main one for us is reliability, so we’ll just try to get on top of that first.” expressed Verstappen about the developments in Spain.
Verstappen suggested that they should be expected to do better in the development but they have to wait and be patient about what other teams are going to come up with. “I think we just have a team working really well on-track, but also back at the factory, it’s very efficient, and I think that, of course, with the cost cap is very important. But I think we’re definitely one of the best on the grid with that. We’ll see. I’m pretty relaxed. It’s a long season and I know that it’s all going to be about development in the car anyway. So, step by step, every race.” said the former world champion.
Read more: F1 News: Why do teams introduce upgrades in the Spanish GP ?
At this juncture, the development war for the 2022 constructors’ championship appears to be between Ferrari and Red Bull, with Ferrari leading their opponents by six points, and Red Bull leading third-placed Mercedes by 56 points. Verstappen revealed enjoying a battle with Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in 2022, rather than the Lewis Hamilton/Mercedes combo he battled last year. “I enjoy it; I know Charles a bit longer of course than… Lewis in general. And what I like is that I think there’s a lot of respect between the two teams as well – not only between the two drivers – and we can really go up to each other and say “you did a better job than us this week”, and they do the same.” said verstappen.
The Spanish GP is all set to be held on Sunday may 22.
