Verstappen prepared to 'let someone else' drive Red Bull to test theory

Max Verstappen has joked that he is prepared to hand over the Red Bull RB19 to see if somebody else "could do a better job with track limits."

Last time out in Qatar, the issue of track limits was a hot topic with Lando Norris believing a shot at pole for both Sprint and Grand Prix was lost after having times deleted while in the race, Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll all picked up multiple five second time penalties for breaches.

The debate around track limits has been on-going for some time with white lines at the edge of tracks determining the boundaries with drivers allowed a set number of strikes in races before a penalty is issued.

Some drivers believe the modern design of circuits is a factor behind track limits with the problem rarely seen in places such as Suzuka where so-called 'natural' track limits are in place with grass or gravel.

Verstappen is fearing another repeat of track limits this weekend - and made a bold offer to test it out.

"I will happily let anyone else drive my car, and see if they can do better with track limits," Verstappen explained to media including RacingNews365.

"Some tracks have just a lot of runoff, so naturally you probably the limits a bit easier because we never really talk about track limits, for example, in Suzuka and that's a bit more of an old school track.

"The latest track standards, they have a thing to do with it and it's a bit of a shame – because I feel like with some of these new tracks that you're more focused on a Quali lap to not go over a white line than actually finding the limit or just the pure enjoyment of pushing.

"It’s more like you’re looking at: 'Did I make it or not? Oh, yeah, I made it.'

"It’s a bit odd. We need to do a better job because I think this weekend will be the same story."

Charles Leclerc also added that he felt a better marker for drivers when it comes to track limits are the red and white painted kerbs as opposed to white lines.

"I've always preferred, in the past, to use the red and white kerb because this is a reference that we can actually feel inside the car, whereas the white line… we are so low in the car that it's very difficult to see exactly where we are," the Monegasque said.

“If we are two centimetres out or exactly on the line is very difficult, whereas with the kerb, you can feel much more about what's going on and it's a better reference."