Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver reveals why he is ‘excited’ about Honda deal
MAX VERSTAPPEN isn’t worried about Red Bull’s engine deal with Honda, despite the manufacturer’s troubled development since returning to Formula One.
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The 20-year-old Dutch driver has already committed his own future to Red Bull until 2020 and says he has faith in the Japanese manufacturer.
"Looking at the performance they showed this year and the improvement they have made, especially in Canada it looked all very positive,” said Verstappen.
“They keep developing and putting people in the right places.
"I believe in it and the team clearly believes in it because they signed the deal.”
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You have basically Honda working for Red Bull and Toro Rosso only, so it's purely really designed around your car
Verstappen is excited about the possible exclusivity of the Honda deal, which will see them working with Red Bull from the 2019 season.
Speaking at the French Grand Prix, he said: "It's exciting as well. You have basically Honda working for Red Bull and Toro Rosso only, so it's purely really designed around your car.
“That's also very good."
Last year Verstappen visited Honda’s facilities in Sakura, Japan and was impressed by the facilities.
"It looked very nice. It was good to have a walk around and see the differences between the Honda and Renault factories," he said.
"It was quite impressive to see how they build up all the facilities, the dynos and stuff. It looked all very efficient."
Verstappen could only secure fourth place on the grid in qualifying for the French Grand Prix, but did out qualify Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo, who is placed in fifth.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton secured pole position, ahead of his Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas in second and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who came in third.
Verstappen thinks the car wasn’t at its best and was hoping for the rain to continue throughout qualifying and is hoping that the team's strategy will help move him up the field in tomorrows race.
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"I don't think we maximised the potential of the car in qualifying today,” he said.
“I was struggling a bit with front grip which didn't make it easy, but we still qualified in fourth.
"It would have been nice if it had continued raining all day but unfortunately it dried up just in time for the session.”
“Starting 4th brings opportunities. Hopefully our strategy moves us forward tomorrow in the race!” Verstappen said on twitter.
Sunday’s race at the Paul Ricard Circuit will start at 3.10pm (BST).