Max Verstappen has denied that he is already hitting a plateau, four races into the second season in his otherwise meteoric Formula 1 career.

The young Dutchman was asked at Sochi about reports a former world champion had said that after Verstappen burst into F1 last year, he is struggling to make the same impact in 2016.

"I don't know who said that, but I'm satisfied with my work and my development," Verstappen, 18, replied.

"I'm in the points every race, I am ninth overall in the championship, the team wants to be fifth in the constructors' - I don't feel that I'm doing something wrong."

Asked in what areas he is focusing on the most in order to improve, Verstappen answered: "Everywhere. I don't think that in any ways I have become worse or stayed at the same level. I keep progressing."

Verstappen posted the 15th-fastest time in today's first practice ahead of Sunday's Russian Grand Prix.