Verstappen issues warning to Red Bull

Cape Town - Max Verstappen has warned that he could leave Red Bull at the end of next season if they do not deliver a competitive car.

The Dutchman, who has been linked with a move to Ferrari, is cut well adrift in the World Championship standings with a plethora of reliability issues derailing his season.

But Verstappen has also bemoaned the pace deficit the team has to Mercedes and Ferrari, and that would have to change if he is to stay with the team beyond the end of the his current contract in 2019.

"I've always said that there's no reason to leave when I have a competitive car," said Verstappen.

"At the moment we are not there where I want to be, but that doesn't mean you have to give up straight away. You have to work hard.

"But after two, three years without improving, that would be a different story. We are working hard to improve but after next year we will see what happens in the future."