Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time Formula 1 World Champion, has expressed doubts about Red Bull Racing’s competitiveness ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Following pre-season testing in Bahrain, where Red Bull faced technical challenges and limited running, Verstappen acknowledged that the team has significant work to do to match their rivals.
“I don’t think we can fight for the win already in Melbourne,” Verstappen admit on a ViaPlay event on Friday. He highlighted McLaren’s impressive performance, stating, “At the moment, only one team is clearly in front, and that team is orange! That’s a very nice colour, of course, but from our side, we still have work to do.”
“Of course we are working in the simulator. And I think we can make some steps in the set-up, but I don’t expect that we can fight for the win in Melbourne. We know where we have to work on, hopefully updates can bring us back in the position to fight for the wins.”
Red Bull’s RB21 car exhibited balance issues during testing, with understeer in slow corners and oversteer in high-speed sections, raising concerns about its competitiveness. In contrast, McLaren’s consistent pace positions them as early favorites for the upcoming race in Melbourne.
As the team analyzes data and seeks improvements, Verstappen remains hopeful that adjustments can enhance their performance. However, he acknowledges that Red Bull faces a challenging start to the season against a resurgent McLaren team.
