General
Verstappen: "Honda's not lagging behind, Mercedes just made a big step"
During Q3, Max Verstappen shouted over the onboard radio that "this is all" for the team. In the end, the Red Bull Racing driver still went on the track, but he couldn't improve on his time. That's why the Dutchman will start from seventh place on Sunday. In a press release, Verstappen explained what he meant by his onboard radio message.
"I only had one set of new tyres, so we had used them," Verstappen said answering a question from GPblog. The Dutchman went back on track to improve his time but he couldn't find any more speed. After two disappointing weekends in Austria, it was Ferrari who finished ahead of Verstappen and they start in P5 and P6.
Mercedes making big steps forward
The Italian team has suffered this year in terms of their engine but that is not the case for Red Bull Racing's Honda engine. Verstappen indicates that Honda didn't have any restrictions around the engine and that instead, Mercedes have continued to make improvements.
"We are not bothered by those changes. Mercedes mainly made a big step," Verstappen explains to the press where GPblog was present.
While Mercedes has made a good step forward, Ferrari seems to be particularly affected by the changes around the engine. The Dutchman indicates that Honda hasn't encountered those problems and that they are just improving.
"We have clearly not suffered from what the FIA has said," Verstappen concludes.