Max Verstappen denies Formula 1 career in plateau

Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso ahead of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 31, 2016 i
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Max Verstappen denies that he is already hitting a plateau, four races into the second season in his otherwise meteoric F1 career.

Max Verstappen has denied that he is already hitting a plateau, four races into the second season in his otherwise meteoric Formula 1 career.

The young Dutchman was asked at Sochi about reports a former world champion had said that after Verstappen burst into F1 last year, he is struggling to make the same impact in 2016.

"I don't know who said that, but I'm satisfied with my work and my development," Verstappen, 18, replied.

"I'm in the points every race, I am ninth overall in the championship, the team wants to be fifth in the constructors' - I don't feel that I'm doing something wrong."

Asked in what areas he is focusing on the most in order to improve, Verstappen answered: "Everywhere. I don't think that in any ways I have become worse or stayed at the same level. I keep progressing."

Verstappen posted the 15th-fastest time in today's first practice ahead of Sunday's Russian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso during previews to the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 14, 2016
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