Verstappen lays down title challenge for 2020

Max Verstappen believes he and Red Bull can begin 2020 with sights set on a title push after a promising first season in collaboration with Honda.

Red Bull ditched Renault at the end of last season after 12 years together, four of which had ended in double title success.

Having switched to Honda, Verstappen has taken the first pole positions of his career, as well as victories in Austria, Germany and Brazil, but Mercedes have once again proved too strong.

Asked if a title-winning car felt closer, Verstappen said: "Yeah, I think we do; also looking at the plans for next year.

"Of course you still have to wait and see what the others have come up with, but of course we want to fight for the title. We're going to give it everything we have to be competitive from the start next year."

Verstappen added of his first year with Honda power: "I think it's been very promising and I think also we had some good results.

"For me what was also important was the reliability and I think that has been very strong throughout the whole year. Also, the progression we've made with the engine itself, that has all been going very well but we always want more.

"We will never be satisfied with what we are doing. But yeah, it's been good. I think it is a good base for next year as well where I think we learned a lot throughout the whole year. I feel confident that we can have a positive start to next season."

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