Max Verstappen does think Red Bull can close the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes after a tricky day's running at the German Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was six-tenths down in fourth place on the pace set by Charles Leclerc in the same hot conditions which enabled him to win two races ago in Austria.

However, while the gap may seem substantial, Max believes only small changes and cleaner laps are required to be in the fight.

“Today was ok,” Verstappen reflected. “We haven’t quite found the perfect balance yet but we are also not too far behind.

"In FP2 I didn’t have a clean lap on the softest compound as I had to abort and around here it is really a one-lap tyre.

"We are a little bit behind Mercedes and Ferrari but with some fine-tuning, it will be ok and I think we are better than the times from FP2 show."

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With the weather at Hockenheim expected to change for Saturday and Sunday, some considered Friday a wasted day due to the lack of representative conditions.

Verstappen though saw it differently.

“It’s always good to get plenty of running on a Friday, even if the conditions are going to change, as you can still get an understanding and find the right direction for the rest of the weekend," he explained.

“One thing I know for sure is that it’s very hot and I’ve been sweating a lot!”