Max Verstappen says he has over-achieved following the first six races in the 2020 Formula 1 season, which has left him second in the drivers’ championship standings.
Verstappen has taken a single grand prix victory so far this year compared to Mercedes’ five. Lewis Hamilton currently leads the standings, 37 points ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen failed to finish the first race of the year in Austria while Valtteri Bottas, who sits third in the championship, didn’t pick up points at the British Grand Prix.
With Mercedes currently holding a clear pace advantage over the rest of the field, Verstappen thinks Bottas should also be ahead of him in the championship.
“I think looking at pure pace, they [Hamilton and Bottas] of course, both of them, they should be ahead of me in the championship,” Verstappen said.
“Of course, I had one retirement, he [Bottas] finished out of the points with a puncture, so no points.
“But of course, that was unlucky for him and for me in the first race.
“I think overall to be second in the few races where I think Mercedes had more pace, we definitely over-achieved a bit and besides that we always maximised what we could. I am of course very happy with that.”
Red Bull was hopeful of fighting Mercedes for the world championship this year – however Verstappen insists that the team is simply too slow to do so.
“I think as a team and myself, we are not here to be second or third, we want to fight for the championship but you also have to accept the situation that we are in,” Verstappen said.
“We are not really able to challenge. Yes it looks like it on paper but if you look at the pure pace we are too slow.
“At the moment, of course, we’re relying on a bit of an off day for Mercedes or a bit of luck to win a race. There’s a lot of work to do.”
