Max Verstappen expects his successful winning streak to come to an end at the upcoming Grand Prix of Japan. The Dutchman won on the Suzuka circuit four years in a row, but according to the world champion, Red Bull’s level this season is not yet high enough to compete for victory again. ‘So I’ll just go into the weekend and see where we stand’, is Verstappen’s plan.
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From 2022 onwards, Max Verstappen won the GP Japan four years in a row. However, the Dutchman does not expect to continue his streak during the upcoming race weekend at Suzuka. In China, the world champion experienced a disappointing race, as he retired in the final phase of the Grand Prix. Verstappen was running in sixth place at that time. The dip in form at Red Bull has not only caused the team to currently be behind Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren in the constructors’ championship, but also behind Haas.
“I don’t really think back on the previous years, because every year is different”, Verstappen looks ahead to the media in Japan. “We have to be realistic: we are currently nowhere near that level (of the other top teams, ed.), so I’ll just go into the weekend and see where we stand.”
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‘Hope China remains our worst weekend’
After the GP Japan, a spring break is scheduled. Both the Grand Prix of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been cancelled due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Verstappen hopes that the break can help Red Bull in the further development of the RB22. “I hope we can use that break to get to know our car a bit better. To learn from the previous races and to simply try to get closer to the front”, continues the Dutch driver. “I think that’s our goal. China was not a nice weekend for us, so I hope that remains our worst weekend for now. In that sense, the break comes in handy.”
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