Verstappen hopes Red Bull F1 catches up to F1 leaders by mid-season

Red Bull's start to the season was made challenging by an inability to fully understand its chassis after Pierre Gasly's pre-season crash and has admitted engine partner Honda still needs to make gains on Mercedes and Ferrari.

With a host of car and engine updates expected, Verstappen believes Red Bull could be a consistent challenger by mid-season.

Speaking exclusively to Autosport at the headquarters of Jumbo ahead of its Jumbo Racing Days event at Zandvoort, Verstappen said: "I think we still need to add more horsepower, but we are a little bit closer.

"On the car side, we also need to improve to really compete. We'll see.

"Hopefully halfway through the season, we won't have to say we can only fight on circuits without [long] straights.

"We are still losing time on the straights, that's a fact. Especially compared to Ferrari. They found something this year but nobody knows how.

"They have done their homework and we have to make sure we get closer with the chassis and the engine."

Although Verstappen has outlined areas for Red Bull to improve, he says he is content with his start to 2019.

"In general we can be satisfied with our start," Verstappen said.

"I think no one expected we would compete for wins right away - I don't think that's realistic. With a new engine partner, it takes some time.

"I am very pleased with Honda so far. The engine is very reliable. Power could always be better, but we knew that.

"They're working really hard on it. We can't complain.

"On the car side we can find some more downforce. In general we need a more consistent balance during the race. Right now we have to maximise what we have."

Asked about the potential for a title challenge by 2020, Verstappen replied: "It's still very early in the season and we are third in the championship.

"We need to make sure we get good updates on the car and the engine and then anything is still possible."