Max Verstappen expects to be fighting for race wiꦏns and the Formula 1 world championship with Red Bull in 2018ꦆ in response to a luckless campaign marred with technical issues and retirements.

Verstappen suffered his seventh DNF of the season in Singapore two weeks ago when he tangled with Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen at Turn 1, leaving him P6 in the championship andꦿ tied on points with Force India's Sergio Perez.

"It’s not my year in terms of Sunday finishes, ꧃but in general you have to try to stay pos🙈itive and look at the positives," Verstappen said.

"I think the speed is there so we try again here in Malays𝄹ia and see how competitive we are, it’s a b🐲it difficult to say.

"ꦗBut last year was p꧙retty alright. We’ll just try again."

Verstappen has made his frustrations about Red Bull's lack of reliability clear this season, and stressed he needs to be fighting at the front of the pack in 2018, which is also the last year of his 😼existing contract.

"Fo🐈r next year, the team and I, we want to win," Veꦚrstappen said.

"I think that♔’s our pri♉ority, and we’ll see what happens afterwards."

When asked to pin down a set targ💝et for next year, Verstappen said: "At least that we𝔉 can fight for the championship. If you win one race and you win the championship that’s fine for me.

"But it’s a bit difficult to say as we are not in that position. Hopefully we are neওxt year, but it’s a bit too early to say.

"So we’⭕ll just have toജ wait and see until we go to Melbourne."

It♌ has been suggested ꦐthat Verstappen could leave Red Bull for Ferrari in 2019 should he endure another difficult season, but the Dutchman does not wish to pay too much attention to the far future.

"I don't want to loo༒k too much in the future. I just want to focus on the job I am doing no💖w and try to finish it off in a good way this season, and then for next season I know where I am," Verstappen said.

"Before we fi🌠nish next season is still such a long time. We just have to wait."