Max’ predictions for the coming season
Published on 08 March 2016 by Mike Motilall
The preseason tests in Barcelona have exceeded Max Verstappen and Toro Rosso’s expectations than anticipated before. As the first race in Australia is dawning, it is time we spoke with Max about his predictions for the coming F1-season. What follows after a successful debut?
“Last year was really a super season", Max tells Formula1.com. "I enjoyed lots of good results so I couldn’t have wished for better. For sure 2016 will turn out to be a bit harder because the expectations are high. But I will just keep calm. You always want to go forward, and that is not always dependent on just your own abilities. You are part of a team, part of a package. And if you know that there is no more within the package, you have to deal with that. But of course I want to finish further ahead in the standings, that’s not a big secret.”
Regarding what he thinks of the new, 2015-spec Ferrari-engine, Max says: “Hopefully the engine is fast enough. It’s already a positive step forward compared to last year. The Italian combination is very positive for the team and on top of that the reliability is very good. Apart from Mercedes, we were the only team to have done the most laps. We know that we are missing some horse power compared to the rest. As the engine will not be developed for the rest of the season, we need to seize every opportunity at the beginning of the year. We have to make super improvements on the car in the course of the season so as to not lose ground. That is the motivation for the team.”
It’s too early for Max to be able to say anything on the STR11’s chassis. “The conditions are pretty different at the tests compared to a race weekend. It is pretty cold, especially in the mornings, so conditions are not one hundred percent optimal. But I feel happy in the car. Every time we make a change, it is reacting the way I want it to - and that is super positive for a start.”
Verstappen considers his future in Formula 1 as quite good. “I am very happy at Toro Rosso. Doing another year with Toro Rosso is good for learning, so I would judge my situation as being very positive. I am able to focus myself completely on this season, so I am in a good position.”
“I have now experienced a full Formula 1-season and have learned a lot in that year. I am not necessarily talking about the racing, but rather everything that comes with being in F1. You learn the most by talking to many different people in F1, you always learn bits and pieces. You learn to understand more about your environment as well. Like a ‘sponge’ I try to absorb everything of value that I hear.”
Asked about a realistic prediction for the coming campaign, Max says: “In an ideal world, you always want to be first, but realistically speaking, we need to wait and see whatever is in the car. If the car is good, we can have good results. Last year I showed what I can do, I hope to do that this year again, but now a bit further up the grid. For the moment everything is looking positive. Hopefully we will turn it into very, or even super positive!”
