Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has looked to reassure the Verstappen’s after criticism post-Sochi.
This week, Max’s father Jos expressed fears at the lack of progress made post-summer and warned that could also hamper their prospects looking ahead to 2020.
Certainly, after a strong mid-season, only one podium in the past four races isn’t what Red Bull was hoping, but Marko is confident of the platform being built for next season.
“Regarding the chassis, I think we will be much better prepared next year than this year,” the Austrian was quoted by GPFans.
“And based on the progress that Honda is making, we believe that we can consistently be at the same level in terms of power as our rivals Mercedes and Ferrari next year.
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“We have generally had no problems with the reliability of the engine. Sometimes we have some problems with the mapping, but on the whole, everything has gone well so far.”
A key part of Verstappen and Red Bull’s recent dip is a number of grid penalties, with the Dutchman taking two in Monza and Sochi.
“It was planned that we would need extra engines this season,” Marko continued. “The progress made with the power justifies taking a new engine and the grid penalty that it generates.
“I think they do a fantastic job. I think they work on the right things and do a good job. We are convinced that we will not be the third team next year.
“We have done a lot of work internally and the data we have about next year makes us positive.”
Less convinced, however, is Dutch F1 pundit Tom Coronel who claims Verstappen would be looking to leave Red Bull if the option was open.
”Max just couldn’t keep up with the pace and that is because the Mercedes and Ferrari are so much faster,” he told De Telegraaf.
“Verstappen now drives in no man’s land and you don’t want that. Max wants only one thing and that is to become a world champion and, of course, he would like to be in the Ferrari now, but he has made his choice for Red Bull [next year].”