Max 🐼Verstappen is hopefu💯l he can “put pressure on” Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen was once ꦺagain a distant third in q🎉ualifying, ending it just over seven-tenths off pole-sitter Hamilton.

Typically this season Red Bull has been closer to Mercedes over a race distance and thꦰe Dutchman is hopeful thi♐s trend continues into Sunday’s grand prix in Barcelona. 

"If we could have had softer tyres then we could have had a chance But it's just a bit more tricky," Verstappen said. "We know they are very fast o𓃲ver one lap, there's not much we can do about that at the moment.

"I felt very happy in the long run yesterday, with the balance of the car and the rear, the tyres as well. Tomorrow again is a new day. We'll have to try and show it again. Of course, I hope that I can be close to t🌠hem and put the pressure on."

Unlike in the most recent races at Silverstone, teams 🐼opted to qualify on the softest tyre in Q2 in Barcelona meaning they wil🧸l be forced to start the race on it.

Verstapp💙en believes the soft tyre will hold up well in the first stint of the race despite the high temperatures expected tomorrow.

"I think the soft tyre is🎀 good enough to start the race on," Verstappen a🅠dded.

"Normally the s💜oftest compound is a bit more tricky, as it falls apart quite quickly. I think it's 💝alright at the track here."

Verstappen currently si🍨ts second in the drꦰivers' championship, 30 points behind Hamilton and four ahead of Bottas.