Max Verstappen doubts Red Bull will be able to challenge for victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, feeling Mercedes and Ferrari will return to their dominant form at the front of the꧋ Formula 1 field at Interlagos.

Verstappen scored his second victory of the year w🌱ith a dominant display last time out in Mexico, leading all but fouꩵr laps en route to a comfortable w🍷in ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

The result acted as a late boost for Red Bull in a seaso෴n that has seen it struggle to compete with Mercedes and Ferrari on a regular basis, having only taken wins in Monaco and Austria prior to Verstappen’s victory.

Verstappen has impressed in Brazil in the past, most notably in 2016 when he finished third for Red Bull in tor🌱rential rain, but the Dutchman doubted hi♚s chances of fighting at the front this year despite the team’s pace in Mexico.

“We will always try to do the best we can, but I think there are not enough corners to make up the loss we have on the straight which you could also see l♍ast year,” Verstappen said.

“In a week, normally you can’t improve your car that much, so we do🌟n’t have enough power. 

“It’s not a normal straight it’s uphill and you are always turning at high speeds so it makes it only worse. With the levels of downforce on these cars, the corners are even mor🐼e flat out, so that’s the same scenario we get in Silverstone.

“A few years ago it w💙as really a proper track with prop🤡er corners, but now it’s pretty much flat out and it gets more painful for us.”

Asked if fifth and sixth place was set in stone for Red Bull at Interlagos, Verstappen said: “Normally, if nothing crazy🌜 happens.”

Verstappen currently sits fifth in the drivers’ championship, 70 points 🐭clear of Red Bull teammate Daniel𓆉 Ricciardo and just 11 shy of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in P4.