Verstappen: I hope we can fight for the win

The upcoming Dutch Grand Prix will be Max Verstappen’s 200th start in Formula 1. As his Red Bull Racing team points out, he will become the 23rd driver in the history of the championship to reach this level, but at the same time the youngest to do so: Max will be released at the start of his home race in Zandvoort at the age of 26 years and 330 days.

Max Verstappen: “During the summer holidays it was nice to relax with family and friends, and now I am ready to get back to work with renewed strength for the second part of the season.

It’s great that it starts with my home race. There’s always a great atmosphere there and great fans, so it’s going to be a special race for me.

“It’s a great circuit, but it’s narrow and the straights are short. Let’s hope that when we go racing again we can perform even more confidently. We will continue to prepare for the coming weekend. I hope we can fight for the win.”

Sergio Perez: “The summer break was very important for everyone in the team and for the championship as a whole, because there are a lot of races and everyone needed more rest and recovery than usual.

I spent the holidays with my family back home in Mexico and feel refreshed and ready for the second half of the season. I know the whole team is in exactly the same mindset – this week I visited the Red Bull Racing base in Milton Keynes and saw everyone.

At Zandvoort, anyone listening to our radio communication with the team will notice a few changes: Hugh, my race engineer, will soon have a new addition to his family, so he has stayed home and I wish him all the best. He will be temporarily replaced by Woody, my other engineer, during the weekends.

I know what to expect from our car in the coming weeks and we will do our best to have the best possible second half of the season.”