Verstappen: Toro Rosso can be third best

Verstappen: Toro Rosso can be third best
Verstappen: Toro Rosso can be third best

9:23 – Max Verstappen is confident that Toro Rosso can emerge as the third best team behind manufacturers Mercedes and Ferrari, following the outfit's performance at the Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen qualified in fifth position and spent the first stint in fourth place, fending off Lewis Hamilton, before slipping back to 10th after the red flag period and subsequent strategy change.

Verstappen is optimistic that Toro Rosso is in a good place but also wary that it must take advantage of its current position, due to its use of a 2015-specification Ferrari power unit.

"I expect a better season with even more growth," he explained during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It depends on a lot of factors. The car is competitive and I must take advantage of these opening races to earn important points.

"Given where we started in Australia, we now realise we can be the best team after Mercedes and Ferrari. It's great that a lot of people are surprised by Toro Rosso."

Verstappen, whose future beyond the end of 2016 remains uncertain, also praised the approach of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

"Drivers that are comfortable with their team and know how to motivate them always stick out to me," he added.

"Vettel is a great example of that. He knows who to work with the mechanics and everyone is on his side. I think that spirit is the most important thing for a driver