Max Verstappen aims to improve pace relative to Daniel Ricciardo
Verstappen trails new team-mate 3-0 in qualifying at Red Bull
Monday 20 June 2016 13:29, UK
Max Verstappen says he expected Daniel Ricciardo's initial edge on pace at Red Bull, with the Dutchman now aiming to bring qualifying up to his race performance.
Since replacing Daniil Kvyat as Ricciardo's team-mate ahead of last month's Spanish GP, Verstappen has yet to outqualify the more experienced Australian in three attempts.
While he started last in Monaco after crashing, Verstappen's average Q3 deficit to Ricciardo in Spain and Canada was three tenths of a second.
But the 18-year-old says he has more speed to find in the RB12 over a single lap on Saturdays.
"He's definitely very quick, but it was something which I also expected to be honest," Verstappen said ahead of this weekend's European GP in Baku.
"I'm still very new in the car and it will only get better. I already feel pretty good and it will get better time by time, race by race. The races are going really well."
Conversely, with a win in Spain and a fourth place last weekend in Montreal, Verstappen has yet to finish behind Ricciardo on the road on race day on the two occasions he has made the chequered flag.
One month on from his sudden promotion to the main Red Bull team, the Dutchman says his acclimatisation process is going well.
"I feel comfortable, but the set-up and stuff you're just experiencing new things on new tracks with that car. It's getting better," he said.
"In terms of race pace, it has always been very positive so far once I have been in this car. So I think that means the set-up we have works in the race.
"Now I need to find a way how to get a bit more out of it in qualifying. But in the end you score the points in the race, so you have to make a bit of a compromise."
