Verstappen: Barcelona a defining moment for Red Bull

Max Verstappen expects the Barcelona Grand Prix to be a "defining moment" in his season after crashing with Red bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo last time out in Baku. The Dutchman has endured an error-strewn start to 2018 but hopes a return to the scene of his maiden Formula 1 win can inspire a better performance.

Verstappen has combined two DNFs - both as a result of collisions - with fifth and sixth-place finishes in which he also made mistakes.

The 20-year-old was in full focus after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, although Red bull and the FIA were quick to share the blame equally between Ricciardo and Verstappen over their shunt.

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With a program of winter testing under every team's belts, a return to Barcelona could be a tight battle, and Verstappen is determined to turn his season around in Catalonia.

Verstappen said: "Everybody has done a lot of laps in Barcelona but I'm looking forward to seeing how the cars progress this year.

"We have many updates coming, hopefully they will be positive and we can be even closer to the front, but of course everybody else will also bring new parts.

"It could be quite a defining moment for the season and I'm interested to see how everyone will perform.

"I believe our car is very fast, we still need a bit more top speed but hopefully that will come.

"I am of course also looking forward to the weekend as I have good memories from my first F1 win there and I will be happy to start the European season and have the comforts of the Energy Station."