Max Verstappen “doesn’t think” he can “fight for victory from Melbourne”
The Dutch driver appears quite pessimistic at the start of the season. This outlook is explained by winter testing that was more complicated than in previous years. Technical problems and a car balance that is not yet optimal have been identified. It's not an ideal situation before starting the season.
A new champion in 2025? It’s still too early to say, but the season is likely to be full of surprises. After three years of domination, Red Bull seems more threatened than ever in the title race. The end of last season had already highlighted this fact (two wins in the last 14 weekends for the Austrian team). For Verstappen, the conclusion is simple: at the moment, Red Bull is not in a position to compete for victory in Melbourne.
Comments that echo the challenging winter testing for Christian Horner’s team. Despite an encouraging first day, the following two days were more complicated for the drivers. Technical issues were compounded by unusual weather conditions in Bahrain (rain and cool temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday). In total, the Austrian team completed the fewest laps with only 304 laps covered. Aside from Lance Stroll, who fell ill on Thursday night, the two Red Bull drivers completed the fewest laps over these three days.
Red Bull in retreat in Melbourne?
A striking fact when looking at the last three years of Red Bull where the Austrian team was racking up victories. An anomaly mentioned by Max Verstappen. The Dutchman, four-time reigning world champion, displayed unusual pessimism. According to him, he does not have a car fast enough to fight for victory in the first race in Australia. « I don’t think we will be fighting for victory in Melbourne. » The former Toro Rosso driver indicated that there are still areas to improve on the car and that some issues encountered last year do not seem to have been resolved yet.
« In terms of balance, the car seems more homogeneous between the entry and middle of the corner », he explained to Viaplay. « But we are still struggling with the curbs and bumps, it’s not our strong point. I keep saying it. » The Dutchman approaches the first Grand Prix with more uncertainty than before after testing that was less successful than hoped. « It’s never enough, of course, but maybe we expected a bit more from Bahrain. After testing, we have time to analyze the data and draw conclusions. I think we can still optimize some things in Melbourne, but as I said, there are still points to improve. »
McLaren in the position of favorite according to the paddock
The reigning world champion also revealed his opponents for this season. According to him, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren remain Red Bull’s main rivals. Nevertheless, the Dutchman mentioned the papaya team as the favorite at least at the start of the season. “Looking at the lap times, I think McLaren will be the favorite.” The man with 63 F1 victories remains optimistic for the future and believes the team will catch up over the course of the season in the manner McLaren did last season.
« Not everything went perfectly on our side, but we have some ideas on how to improve. I also spent a lot of time in the simulator, again yesterday with the team. I hope we can make some improvements in the upcoming races. »
A fifth championship title in 2025?
The fight for the championship is therefore likely to be more unpredictable than ever. The Dutch driver has already proven he can win without having the best car. However, can he do it this season when the estimated gap between Red Bull and McLaren is three to four tenths? No one knows, but the Dutchman hasn’t been in such a tricky situation for a few years.
Enough to reignite rumors of a departure for the Dutchman if Red Bull doesn’t provide him with equipment capable of winning championships. A possible move to Aston Martin is also resurfacing in the media. Stay tuned.
