Can Verstappen make it an Austrian Grand Prix hat-trick?

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing will aim to make the best start possible to the delayed 2020 F1 season by winning his third successive Austrian Grand Prix this Sunday.

The teams were ready and just two hours away from getting the first free practice session underway in Melbourne in March before teams followed McLaren’s lead to withdraw, cancelling the event at the 11th hour.

With a dramatically altered calendar, the teams start with back-to-back races at the Red Bull Ring, starting this Friday.

Verstappen claimed victory in the previous two races in the Austrian hills in front of a huge Dutch contingent.

But with no fans allowed at the track this year, the Dutchman admitted it will be weird to race without fans, though he is desperate to get back behind the wheel again.

“It is going to be very different without the orange army and it’s going to feel a little strange,” Verstappen admitted. “There are usually so many great Dutch fans in Austria.

“I don’t really think about a hat-trick, the most important thing for me is to have a competitive car and perform at my best.

“I don’t expect it to be an easy win, I think Mercedes again will be very strong. Who knows where Ferrari will be as well.”