Verstappen frustrated in Spain: Not here to qualify fourth

Max Verstappen cut a frustrated figure, despite equalling his best qualifying performance of 2019 at the Spanish Grand Prix as Red Bull remained well adrift of Mercedes, despite bringing an upgraded car to Barcelona. Verstappen will start the race in fourth, but qualified almost a second adrift of pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas.

Bottas was six tenths of a second clear in P1 after delivering arguably the greatest qualifying performance of his Formula 1 career to date.

Of course, Red Bull are not the only team upgraded in Montmelo, all teams generally bring new parts to this race and Verstappen was able to catch up to Ferrari, qualifying between Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.

However, the Dutchman remained frustrated with Mercedes untouchable so far this season.

Verstappen told Sky Sports: "It's alright, but if you compare it to Mercedes of course we are lacking quite a bit.

"So I think we are not where we want to be and we can be very honest about that.

"I am not here to qualify fourth. Of course I'm happy to be between the Ferrari cars but I think as a team we want to challenge the number one and that is Mercedes."

Asked if he was unimpressed with the upgrade: "Not really, in qualifying my balance was not bad but clearly we are lacking pace.

"I think just overall we need a bit more grip and I couldn't really see if I'm massively oversteering or understeering."

Having split the Ferrari cars, Verstappen is confident of mixing it with Vettel and Leclerc in Sunday's race.

"I think we have a realistic chance of fighting with Ferrari, we are quite close," he said.

"Mercedes is a different story, especially Valtteri it seems like he's flying this weekend, so I'm not really targeting that, but you never know.

"I'm normally a bit more confident in the race that our car is in a better window."

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