Max Verstappen says this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix presents Red Bull with its best chance of taking another Formula 1 win before the end of the season.
Daniel Ricciardo triumphed in China and Monaco while Verstappen went on to win the company’s home race in Austria, but the team has not added to its victory tally since.
Verstappen finished a close runner-up to Kimi Raikkonen in the United States last Sunday, rising from 18th on the grid, marking his fourth podium in the last six Grands Prix.
Verstappen dominated in Mexico last year, having prised the lead from Sebastian Vettel at the start, and reckons the nature of the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez should suit Red Bull.
“This is definitely the best chance for us,” said Verstappen.
“We will try to set up the car in the best way possible and then we will find out how we are going to perform.
“I don’t think in qualifying we will have a chance but in the race I think we seem to working a lot better so I expect us to be better than Austin.
“I think the engines will be a little bit closer because it is a little bit more difficult for them to breathe.
“Downforce wise you lose a lot of performance and then it’s more about mechanical grip and stuff because even with the biggest wing here you have less downforce than Monza.
“I think our car is very good mechanically and aerodynamically anyway, although of course that is less of a factor so I think that’s why we are normally more competitive on this track than others, even though there is a super long straight. I think that explains a lot.”
Verstappen holds fifth place in the Drivers’ Championship, 26 points behind Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.
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