Max Verstappen not thinking about possible podium place in Spain

14 May 2016 04:23

Teenager Max Verstappen insists he is not dreaming of a first podium finish in Formula One despite a sensational qualifying display on his Red Bull debut.

The 18-year-old Dutchman, who last week landed a controversial promotion to the former world championship-winning team after Daniil Kvyat was dropped, will line up in fourth on the grid for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

At one stage, it appeared as though Verstappen may even out-qualify team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, a three-time grand prix winner, and start third. But in his final run at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, Ricciardo turned in a lap which was four-tenths-of-a second faster than his new colleague.

"No, absolutely not," said Verstappen when asked if he was disappointed to lose out to Ricciardo in the closing moments.

"I was very pleased with my first qualifying, I was enjoying it a lot and I think we both pushed each other. I think that is very good for the team.

"I expected actually completely nothing. I was just thinking about myself, jumping in the car and from there on seeing what happens."

Starting in fourth, Verstappen will have the Ferrari duo of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, who together can boast five championships between them, behind him.

But with Red Bull appearing to be the second-best team here behind the sport's all-conquering Mercedes team, there is a real chance Verstappen could emulate his father Jos Verstappen by finishing on the podium.

But the Red Bull youngster, who only obtained his road driving licence in September, added: "I never start dreaming [of a podium finish]. I just focus a lot. Tomorrow it is all about a clean start, a clean first lap and from there hopefully we will have good pace."

Jos Verstappen, a team-mate of Michael Schumacher at Benetton in 1994, has been pivotal in his son's spectacular rise through the junior ranks of motor racing.

But speaking after qualifying, he revealed he will now be taking a back seat in his son's career following the teenager's promotion to Red Bull from their junior team Toro Rosso.

World champion Lewis Hamilton enjoyed a close relationship with his father Anthony in his formative years in the sport, but following Hamilton's decision to sack him as his manager at the end of the 2009 season, Hamilton senior has largely become a peripheral figure in the paddock.

"At this stage in his career I think it is better I take another step back because he is now where he needs to be," said Jos Verstappen. "It is about Max and not his dad. I did my job until now - he is in a top team where he should be so it's fine. It is my decision.

"It is up to the team, Helmut [Marko] , Christian [Horner] and Max to say what they want to say and not up to me. He knows exactly what to do."

Source: PA