Although he is not entering the Austrian Grand Prix weekend as the favorite, Max Verstappen hopes to take another step forward on Sunday. Red Bull has brought a significant package of updates for their home race in Spielberg.
“Hopefully, it gives us a bit more speed in the car,” Verstappen said on Thursday at a press conference at the Red Bull Ring. “The team has worked hard to make the new parts, so I’m happy we have them here.”
Verstappen did not want to say exactly what updates and new parts Red Bull has brought. “But every little bit helps. Hopefully, the gap will get a bit smaller. At the same time, other teams are also bringing updates, so we have to keep working hard.”
The 27-year-old Verstappen is aiming for his sixth victory at the Red Bull Ring, one of the circuits where he has had the most success. “It’s one of my favorite tracks. I almost always feel good here for some reason. Some circuits just suit you better than others, and this is one of them.”
Regarding the upcoming race weekend, Verstappen thinks a victory is out of reach. The temperature will rise to above 30 degrees in the coming days. “That’s not in our favor. But in the past, we have won here even when we weren’t the favorite. As always, I will do everything I can to achieve the best possible result.”