"We're just too slow" to win F1 title this season - Verstappen

Max Verstappen has countered claims Red Bull is "just too slow" to be in the hunt for this season's Formula 1 title.

Following his DNF at the opening race in Austria, Verstappen has since stood on the podium in the subsequent six races, although currently trails championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 47 points.

Team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko have both suggested the title race is far from over. Verstappen, however, insists he has no chance.

"Well, we won’t give up but I’m very realistic and now we’re just too slow," said the 22-year-old. "We need luck to win races to actually get some points back.

"Like at the moment, it looks like we’re still in a championship fight but every race I’m more or less losing seven points, so at one point we’ll of course not be able to close the gap."

Horner, in particular, has suggested the number of new tracks coming up - starting with Mugello for the Tuscan Grand Prix - may yet play into Red Bull's hands.

Nine-time grand prix winner Verstappen, however, is not as optimistic as Horner, adding: "I guess that’s just being realistic, I think that’s good.

"But every single weekend I try to, of course, get the best out of it. It’s not like I’m down or anything but being realistic.

"I think in Spa [for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix], again, we were half a second slower a lap compared to them. You can’t really fight them at the moment."

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