Christian Horner: 'Red Bull must give Max Verstappen winning car'

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner at Old Truman Brewery on February 17, 2016
© Getty Images
Christian Horner acknowledges that Red Bull needs to give Max Verstappen a winning car for 2018.

Christian Horner has acknowledged that Red Bull need to give Max Verstappen a winning car for 2018.

Recently, the 19-year-old Dutchman and his father Jos have not categorically rejected rumours that Verstappen is linked with a future switch to Ferrari.

At the same time, even though an often clearly frustrated Verstappen is locked in a Red Bull contract until 2019, his car this year has been regularly breaking down.

When asked if he was relieved when Verstappen finally finished a race recently at Silverstone, Red Bull team boss Horner admitted: "You could say that."

Regarding Verstappen's recent outbursts, he told Algemeen Dagblad: "Of course he has shown some emotion, especially when you stick a microphone under his chin after a bad race, but he has also always been under control.

"This phase in his career is still character building for him, because F1 is not a sport that relies simply on a racquet, bat or ball. So he will only get stronger and more complete."

Horner said that Red Bull are at least making serious progress with pace and performance, after a less than impressive start to 2017.

"Since Barcelona, there has been real progress in every race with the possible exception of Silverstone, but we're clearly on the right track," he said.

Horner added that there is no doubt Verstappen will still be a Red Bull driver next year, but admitted that the energy drink-owned team need to make a step for 2018.

"It's up to us to give Max a car with which he can win before we talk about the future," said Horner.

"If we do that, I'm sure there's no team Max wants to race for other than ours."

Red Bull are third in the team standings heading into this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP into the first corner during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 10, 2015
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1Mercedes357
2Ferrari318
3Red Bull184
4Force India101
5Williams-Mercedes41
6Toro Rosso39
7Haas29
8Renault26
9McLaren11
10Sauber5
DriversTeamPoints
1Sebastian VettelFerrari202
2Lewis HamiltonMercedes188
3Valtteri BottasMercedes169
4Daniel RicciardoRed Bull117
5Kimi RaikkonenFerrari116
6Max VerstappenRed Bull67
7Sergio PerezForce India56
8Esteban OconForce India45
9Carlos SainzToro Rosso35
10Nico HulkenbergRenault26
11Felipe MassaWilliams-Mercedes23
12Lance StrollWilliams-Mercedes18
13Romain GrosjeanHaas18
14Kevin MagnussenHaas11
15Fernando AlonsoMcLaren10
16Pascal WehrleinSauber5
17Daniil KvyatToro Rosso4
18Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren1
19Marcus EricssonSauber0
20Jolyon PalmerRenault0
21Antonio GiovinazziSauber0
22Jenson ButtonMcLaren0
23Paul di RestaWilliams-Mercedes0
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