F1: Max Verstappen set 2019 title target by Red Bull bosses

Marko: no excuses for Verstappen title challenge

Red Bull Racing motorsport advisor Helmut Marko believes that the switch to Honda engines next year can help make Max Verstappen the youngest ever Formula 1 world champion.

The team’s engines are currently supplied by Renault but from next season Honda will power the Red Bull cars of Verstappen and 2019 teammate Pierre Gasly.

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For 21-year-old Verstappen to break Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest champion he needs to win the title in 2019 or 2020. Vettel was a champion with Red Bull at the age of 23 years and 134 days.

In an interview with Autosport Marko said that despite the two-year cushion there is no reason why Verstappen can’t win the title in 2019.

“We’re really looking forward to next year,” said Marko. “The aim is to have the youngest world champion. Two years we have, but we’ll go for it next year.

“We know the first year with a new engine manufacturer is not easy. But the aim, and the goal that I’ve told all the people, is that we have to go for the championship from the beginning. No excuses.”

Vettel and Ferrari will fight on

Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari may have lost out on the 2018 F1 drivers’ championship to Lewis Hamilton but they will continue the fight against Mercedes for the constructors’ title.

Two races remain in the 2018 season - Brazil on 11 November and Abu Dhabi on 25 November - and Mercedes currently lead Ferrari by 55 points in the standings.

There are, however, a possible 86 points still to play for and Vettel is keen to put the disappointment of the drivers’ title behind him.

“There are still a lot of lessons to learn, and we need to make sure we make the right conclusions,” Vettel said to Sky Sports F1. “We are a very talented and gifted team, we have the most support behind us, we have huge potential - of which some still needs to be unleashed.

“But we will try to beat Mercedes in the constructors’ championship and knock them off their throne to give them a taste for next year.”

Officials say Vietnam will host a GP in 2020

News agency AFP reports today that officials in Hanoi have revealed that Vietnam will host an F1 race in April 2020.

The Vietnam Grand Prix is planned to be held in the Asian nation’s capital city and a new circuit will be unveiled at an event next week.

A letter sent by the Hanoi People’s Committee to AFP said: “The city of Hanoi managed to conclude the cooperation to be entitled as the official host of a race of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship [from] April 2020.”

Once confirmed, Vietnam will become the third Southeast Asian country to host an F1 race after Malaysia and Singapore.