Doornbos: Verstappen will bounce back in 2016

May 29 - Max Verstappen will bounce back from his crash to earth in Monaco grand prix, according to fellow Dutch racer Robert Doornbos.

After all the praise and plaudits following Barcelona, where the 18-year-old became F1's youngest ever winner, Verstappen crashed to earth during Q1 in Monaco grand prix with a thumping impact into the unforgiving barriers.

Former Red Bull driver Doornbos, however, tipped Verstappen to succeed over the longer game.

"I seriously think Max has the makings to finish behind the Mercedes drivers," he said. "I think he can be third or fourth in the world championship. That would be a real world-class performance."

Even though he has only just switched from Toro Rosso, Verstappen is currently sixth in the points standings, ten points behind teammate Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

But Max is at the back of the grid for Sunday's race, while it is teammate Ricciardo scooping all the plaudits with his maiden pole position.

"Ricciardo is a super talent," Doornbos is quoted by De Telegraaf, "and what happened with Max in Barcelona was a real slap in the face for him.

"Last year he (Ricciardo) had a dip, but this season I see he is very strong."

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