Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen will start 2020 as Formula 1’s “in-form driver”.
The Dutchman enjoyed a strong end to this past season, scoring three podiums including a victory in Brazil to end the year third in the Drivers’ standings.
That followed a year that has seen Verstappen largely optimise what was given to him by Red Bull and that improvement has Horner confident he is now ready to take the next step.
“I think he took on the responsibility of being the team leader and is now very much the rounded package,” the Briton said in his season review quoted by GPFans.
“He has driven some phenomenal races this season and has completed over 100 races at just 22 years of age, which gives him an incredible knowledge bank of data and experience.
“He’s in a position now where he’s more than capable of challenging for the world championship and we need to give him a car that he can do that with.
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“If we can do that I’ve got every confidence that he can take the fight to Lewis [Hamilton], Mercedes and Ferrari,” Horner insisted.
“He’s right there; his form has been fantastic and I believe he’s the most in-form F1 driver at the moment.”
With the pressure now on the team to give Verstappen a championship-contending car in 2020, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is confident they are on track to do just that.
“We don’t have any excuses for next year,” the Austrian told Servus TV.
“For the first time, we are 14 days ahead of our normal schedule. We’re going into the new year better than ever and with a great concept. Now we finally have to deliver.”
If they don’t, then Verstappen may well be considering his future as his contract expires after next season.
