Verstappen targets 2016 podium, 'top car' in 2017

  • Published on 17 Mar 2016 10:37
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Max Verstappen has joined his boss Franz Tost in targeting a podium for 2016. After Toro Rosso chief Tost set the podium objective recently, team driver Carlos Sainz said he doubted the Faenza based outfit can achieve it.

Teenager Verstappen, however, is aiming higher than Sainz. "Max has set the bar high for himself, but that's ok," the Dutchman's father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, told De Telegraaf newspaper. Max, 18, confirmed that he is aiming for the podium. "That's the goal. If you have had fourth places in the first year, the podium is the next step," he said.

And the next step after that, father Jos added, is a bigger and better team. "Max is developing quickly," he said. "He is at Toro Rosso at the moment but I think next year he will be ready for the next step. We want to be in a top car."

With his audacious overtaking moves, Verstappen was a surprise standout of 2015. But that tenacity also landed him in trouble, attracting penalty points against his licence amid the spectre of a potential race ban.

"The penalty points system is a bit strange," Max said. "I got quite a lot of honours (awards) after last season which is a sign that I did something well, so what do they want me to do? Anyway, I can't change it and I certainly will not take a different approach to racing."

However, Verstappen may not need to be quite so audacious in 2016, as he is expecting more power from Toro Rosso's 2015-spec Ferrari engine. "I hope to get them all on the straight now!" he smiled. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar