Max Verstappen wants 2016 podium

Max Verstappen of Netherlands, who will drive for Scuderia Toro Rosso next season, looks on in the paddock before watching the action in the Scuderia Toro Rosso garage during practice ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Augu
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Max Verstappen joins his boss Franz Tost in targeting a podium for 2016.

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 that he doubted the Faenza-based outfit can achieve it.

Teenager Verstappen, however, is aiming higher than Sainz.

"[The podium] is the goal. If you have had fourth places in the first year, the podium is the next step," he told De Telegraaf.

With his audacious overtaking moves, Verstappen was a surprise standout of 2015. However, 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 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.

Carlos Sainz Jr of Spain talks with engineer Andy Deram as he prepares to drive the Infiniti Red Bull Racing car during the young drivers test at Silverstone Circuit on July 19, 2013
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