Jos Verstappen sees 2017 echoes in Red Bull’s approach

Ahead of the race in Malaysia, Jos Verstappen told De Telegraaf that Red Bull was working hard to address the car’s limitations for next season and listening to Max Verstappen. He said the team was examining areas it had not previously considered, which gave him confidence.

Jos said he understood the parallels with 2017. Max’s first win for Red Bull came in Barcelona in 2016; the following year he started P3 in Malaysia and took his second Grand Prix victory. Jos recalled that there was confidence in Red Bull’s future at the time and that the team was already in talks with Honda, then a future engine partner.

After qualifying on pole, Max said before the race that Red Bull’s start could be a problem and that several small things were not working well for the team.

Ahead of the race, Jos said a victory in Malaysia—or elsewhere that season—would make a good story. What mattered more to him, he said, was Max having a better car the following year so he could achieve more.