Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes a big result is on the horizon for Max Verstappen after a miserable run of four retirements in six races.
The latest came on Sunday in Baku as an engine failure saw the Dutchman have to return to the pits while challenging Sergio Perez for third. That followed a battery failure two weeks prior in Canada after a brilliant start had seen the 19-year-old move up to second.
As it stands, Verstappen is sixth in the Drivers’ championship just a single point clear of Sergio Perez’s Force India and has the unfortunate tag of having completed the least number of race laps of any driver to have participated in every Grand Prix, including both McLaren’s.
What also hasn’t helped, is team-mate Daniel Ricciardo has finished third, third, third and first in the last four races, accumulating the most points of any driver in the same period and that, Horner admits, is hurting Verstappen further.
“Right here and now, he’s enormously frustrated,” he said. “But what compounds that is that his team-mate has been getting podiums and now a victory.
“You can see it is through no fault of the team or the effort the team is putting in.”
Going forward, given the pace that the Red Bull driver has shown between his problems, Horner adds: “He’s had a few rough races where things haven’t gone his way, but I just get the feeling that there’s a big result just around the corner for him.
“He’s driving so well at the moment, he’s really stepped it up a gear. He’s had a run of bad luck that will turn – it always does.”
Horner also doubts there is a risk of the current woes impacting Verstappen’s driving should they continue and that, after his amazing first 12 months with Red Bull, times like this are important as he continues to improve as a driver.
“He came to Baku and he’s been on it all weekend. He’s been massively impressive, particularly in the second sector so I don’t think so,” the Briton said. “He’s a very mature 19-year-old.
“He’s obviously hungry for success and he feels it, which is probably a good thing.
“He’ll grow in his career from this current experience that’s been tremendously frustrating for him and he’ll come out even stronger – I’ve got no doubt about that.”