Max Verstappen estimated work of Red Bull and Honda during early tests of royal races of 2019 and assured that, despite results in the protocol, the team has to be among leaders.
Though early tests in the Red Bull team passed much better, than in the past 2018, the team couldn't be compared on distance in kilometers to the potential opponents - stables of Ferrari and Mercedes. Nevertheless, it didn't disturb the rukovdstvo in Milton-Kins, and Max Verstappen, without watching only twenty nine circles in the last day of the test session, keeps the morale.
The Dutch expressed deep satisfaction with result of work of Red Bull and Honda during the whole winter and let know that the real test will take place in Australia on March 17 where there will take place the first race of the season 2019.
"During tests it is always possible to work better, however in general we spent very positive days. We passed many circles – more than 100 in the majority test days. Everything works rather well and properly, including the power unit – at least when I was driving the race car. We are very happy with our joint team work Especially I am delighted with speed of reaction of engineering department to the arising problems", - Verstappen told.
On the question whether the team will be able, in two weeks, in Melbourne to fight for the victory, Verstappen answered already not so surely: "I don't know whether we will be able to fight for the victory in the first race. Let's look how there will take place free runs and qualification, and then still we will wait for Sunday to learn conditions on the track.
It is hard to say whether we correspond to the Ferrari and Mercedes level on one circle or not. We didn't manage to pass such circle which left at them. But I not really worry because of it. They are very fast, it precisely, but I am very happy what we made at the moment".
Verstappen referred to the pace on long series of circles to assess results of early RB15 tests positively.
"Our racing pace on these tests was really promising, however Melbourne is other track, and temperatures will be others there. Everything will be based on search of the best settings of the machine. The season will be very long, - he added. – In general, if to compare results of our tests and them, we can be happy. They passed many circles, but what I saw and felt driving our car, promises much for 2019".
The Dutch who this year will be together with the workmate Pierre Gasli will defend colors of team, told that work with Honda brings it only positive emotions.
"I am very happy with cooperation of Red Bull and Honda. What we asked, everything quickly returns to the plant and is improved. We saw how the engine of Honda works at the track – it always was reliable and it as we want. I couldn't be happier".