Verstappen ready 'to count some sheep' on Silverstone return

Max Verstappen has written off his hopes of challenging Lewis Hamilton on his return to Silverstone this weekend - and in this year's Formula 1 title race.

Up until the final dramatic last few laps of Sunday's British Grand Prix, Red Bull driver Verstappen had endured a lonely race as he lacked the pace to keep Mercedes duo Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in his sights, while he was too quick for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who spent much of the race in fourth.

For this weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Pirelli is running a softer step in tyre choices which will offer an increase in strategy options and almost certainly lead to at least a two-stop race.

Regardless, Verstappen is expecting a repeat of the boredom he experienced first time around at the circuit on Sunday.

"I think everybody will probably end up doing a two-stop," said Verstappen. "I don't think it will change a lot.

"For me, I don’t think there will be a lot of changes to the way I will be driving. I’ll probably be counting some sheep next to the track."

As to whether he expects to be any closer to Mercedes this weekend, Verstappen replied: "Normally not. It [the gap to Mercedes] is so big, c’mon!

"Maybe you find a tenth [of a second], or one-and-a-half and we are a bit closer, but it’s not close enough. I’m trying but it’s not possible at the moment. You have to be realistic.

"I mean you can dream and you can hope, but I think it’s way more important to be realistic because that’s how you move forward. If you keep dreaming about those chances, it’s not going to happen. We just have to keep working."

As for the title, with Verstappen 36 points adrift of Hamilton after the opening four races, the Dutch driver already feels the six-time F1 champion will not be caught.

Asked whether anyone could stop Hamilton, his answer was blunt and to the point - "No!"

Before you go...

Hamilton frustrated by lack of a fight as he closes in on Schumacher record

Russell relief after finally "overtaking a car that isn't a Williams" for the first time

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