Max Verstappen reflected on a positive first day in the new Red Bull RB16 after completing a shakedown at Silverstone.
Taking advantage of the filming day provision in the regulations, the Dutchman was able to complete 100km behind the wheel at the British circuit to gain an early feel on his 2020 car before official testing begins next week.
And in a year when he and Red Bull are eager to finally take the fight to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, Max was pleased by how it went.
“We’re here in Silverstone, and it’s nice and warm… not!” Verstappen joked in a video released by the team.
“The first time out in the car, I’ve been driving already a bit, so good first impressions. It’s been quite a while since the last time we were in an F1 car, so it’s always good to be back.
“It’s good to have a little break, but at one point you want to be back in. Once you fire up, it’s the normal procedure of how you go out, but it’s always interesting to feel the new car, the new engine. Luckily everything went very smoothly.
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“The target for the whole team is that we want to fight for the championship and do better than last year and be there from the first race onwards,” he added.
“The team is very motivated, working hard over the winter as well so I can’t wait to get started. We improved the engine a lot; it was a good starting point for this year, we just try to keep on improving the engine.
“Hopefully, we will be competitive from the start, and then it can be a really interesting and fun year.”
Teammate Alex Albon will have to wait until Barcelona to get his first taste of the RB16, but he too was enthusiastic based on what Verstappen was saying.
“The car feels really good; Max says he’s feeling quite nice,” he said.
“It’s good to be here, to get the initial feedback from the guys, everything has been running pretty smoothly so all good for Barcelona. The focus would be not putting set targets. I’m getting excited already.”