Max in Barcelona: 'Hopefully our updates get us closer to the front'

Published on 09 May 2019 by Stefan Meens

The first European race of the Formula 1 world championship usually means a whole raft of updates are introduced by the teams in the paddock. Time will tell if the pecking order changes. “Every team brings updates along to Barcelona, but hopefully ours work better than the opposition’s, so we can close the gap to the front”, explains Max Verstappen from the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Energy Station at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

“Development is a constant process that’s continually happening in the factory. Until the very last moments, in the wind tunnel also, they’re working on the aerodynamics”, Max adds. “It’s all about the details we can improve, both in the area of the power unit as well as the chassis. At the end of the day we are looking for more grip, both at the front and rear of the car. I hope we can see the fruits of the hard work here in Barcelona. And of course, we’ll keep developing.”

In the previous Grand Prix, in Baku, Max struggled to get his tyres back into the right temperature window. “It’s more difficult this year to do so with the thinner tyre thread, especially on a street circuit, where getting heat in the tyres is always more difficult. Here in Barcelona it should be a lot easier. It’s not easy to understand these tyres because it’s challenging to get them in the correct operating window. If they’re not in it, they’re very sensitive.”

“Here in Barcelona, the rear tyres used to be the main issue. But with the new, more slippery track surfacing, it feels different. So, it might be that the front tyres are more important. But it also depends on factors such as wind and temperature.”

In 2016, Max took his first Formula 1 win at the Barcelona circuit. It made him the youngest ever winner in the history of the sport. To cross the line first, the Dutchman had to give it his all to keep Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari behind him in the closing stages of the Grand Prix.

“Overtaking is not easy in Barcelona. I think you need to be a second and a half faster than the car in front as well as needing higher top speed to really be able to overtake. In that regard, this race is usually not that exciting. But that’s how I won my first race. If overtaking would be easy around here, that wouldn’t have happened.”

Spanish GP contest: win the scale model of Max Verstappen RB14 Spain 2018