Max Verstappen admits he doesn’t want this season to end ahead of the final grand prix in Abu Dhabi, with Red Bull having shown good form in the latter races.
Red Bull made a slow start to 2017 as they struggled to match the performance of rivals Mercedes and Ferrari following a regulation change, but gradually began to boast a more competitive package as the year progressed.
Verstappen himself has suffered a season of two halves, with a streak of mechanical failures and first-lap crashes blighting the first-half of his campaign, before sealing two wins in Malaysia and Mexico.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit has historically gone well at the Yas Marina circuit with three victories in eight years – and Verstappen says he’s “fired up” to end the season on a high note.
“We will of course try and end the season with a strong result in Abu Dhabi,” said Verstappen.
“Last year was actually quite a good race after skipping a pit stop following a spin at Turn 1, it was hard to manage the tyres to the end of the race but we did it and finished fourth.
“The final sector at Yas Marina is actually quite technical so you have to be really precise there, but it should also be our strongest part of the track.
“There are quite a few overtaking opportunities to make the race interesting, before the long straight at the hairpin and then at the end of the straight under braking for the next chicane section.
“Abu Dhabi is the last race on the calendar, but I don’t actually want the season to end.
“I’m really fired up at the moment and I just want to keep going. The nice thing will be to spend some time with friends and family over the winter break and then I will look ahead to January and get back in to training before it all starts again.”
