Verstappen's championship is the main goal of Red Bull team in 2020
A driver and a team’s boss on possibilities of the champion title next season.
The last championship for the Anglo-Austrian team was in 2013. The team managed to win cups in both championships: Constructors’ and Drivers’, the Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel was the champion of the season-2013. But since that it has been almost 6 years, and the team wasn’t able to get closer to the title.
At the beginning of the current season, Red Bull was showing strong performances, and even won two races. However, despite the engine updates and general improving of Honda, after the summer break the Red Bull car came to the podium only once - in Singapore.
According to the Red Bull principal Helmut Marko, the team has very bold and big goals for 2020. And if it’s obvious that in the Constructors’ Cup Red Bull will be difficult to win, then, as for the Drivers’ standings, Marco believes that the team is obliged to provide a titut to its driver.
On September 30, literally a week ago, Max Verstappen turned 22. At the moment, the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history is Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title at 23 years and 134 days, in 2010 with Red Bull. Next season, the team can break its own record and present the new youngest Formula 1 champion."It's the last year we can make Max the youngest champion in F1," - Marco told.
Another important point that next season is the final season in Max’s contract with Red Bull.
"We have to get it together for next year. We know that. It's in our DNA to win. It's not crucial but it's a must [the title for Verstappen]," - the Red Bull boss said.
As for the driver, Max is configured more restrained. Verstappen says he isn’t happy with the current form of the team, and also assures the team isn’t ready for the championship next season.
"I think it’s clear that I sometimes overperformed this year. People often think ‘well Red Bull are not that bad, that team is on the same level as the rest.’ In my opinion however, we are often a little further away than it seems," - Max told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
"Before Singapore, I thought we could compete for the world title next season. Maybe not anymore."
Verstappen shared his opinion on what team should do, if it wants to win.
"As a team, we must try to think further ahead than we already have. We are not where we need to be. We have not yet taken the steps needed to be competitive next year."
Returning to the question of development of the car, Helmut Marko explained how the team plans to improve its package to the Mercedes’ and Ferrari’s level.
"In terms of the chassis, I think we'll be much better prepared than we were this season. And based on the progress Honda are making, we believe we can consistently be on Mercedes' and Ferrari's level next year in terms of power."