Max Verstappen: Dutch fans won't help me in Austria

Max Verstappen

Verstappen: Dutch fans won't help me in Austria

No miracles expected in next GP.

Martin Macdonald

Monday 24 June 2019 08:30

Max Verstappen says that, although he appreciates the continued support from his Dutch fans, many of whom will be in attendance at the next race in Austria, their cheering will ultimately not inject his car with more power - which is what he needs to compete.

The Red Bull man started and finished the French Grand Prix in fourth position, but failed to put significant pressure on the top three for a podium position.

He is one of the best-supported drivers on the grid, with fans from the Netherlands regularly found at races draped in orange.

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With the Dutch GP coming back next year it will be a sure-fire Verstappen-fest, but Austria marks the home race of his team, Red Bull, in this calendar, meaning he will have plenty of fans there too.

Verstappen, however, says that the support from fans doesn’t generate into much-needed power.

“I'm gonna be realistic and say it'll be difficult,” he said of his chances in the upcoming Austrian GP.

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“It's not gonna get me more power. If it would, you're doing something wrong on all the other tracks.

“Of course, I'm happy to see them and I'm gonna try and give them a good result, but I don't expect miracles.”

The 21-year-old won the last edition of the Austrian GP in 2018, but admits there may have been an element of fortune in the victory 12 months ago.

“Last year we got lucky, and we had a better car compared to Mercedes and Ferrari, and at the moment I cannot say that we have a better car than Mercedes,” he added.