Verstappen: Honda spending will unleash Red Bull's potential

Max Verstappen believes Red Bull have the best car on the Formula 1 grid and suggests that Honda are willing to spend more than Renault in order to unleash the team's full potential. Verstappen drove superbly at the Singapore Grand Prix to take second place behind Lewis Hamilton.

The Marina Bay's street circuit nature has often played to Red Bull's high-downforce strengths, although Verstappen was pessimistic ahead of the race, suggesting that Renault's power deficit to Mercedes and Ferrari is greater now than it was 12 months ago.

Verstappen delivered a spectacular qualifying lap on Saturday, the only one to get close to Hamilton's record-breaking effort, and then capitalised on strong strategy to take second ahead of Sebastian Vettel, despite being overtaken by the Ferrari on the opening lap.

Asked about his chances of repeating 2017's win in Mexico in four races' time, Verstappen said: "I won last year, but this year we have a big deficit regarding power compared to last year. But you never know.

"I think that we have the best car of the field, you could see that also in Singapore.

"From next year onward, with the new engine supplier, we hope that things will be heading in the right direction.

"Honda’s budget is a lot bigger than our current engine supplier is spending. They are making strides and the result in the tests prove that.

"Honda is eager, they want to win. At Red Bull Racing we want the same."

MORE: Hamilton wants title fight with Verstappen
MORE: Verstappen proved he's a 'future champion' in Singapore