P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has admitted he isn’t expecting Red Bull to have the pace to be in contention to win the first race of the 2025 F1 season in Australia next weekend.
Recently, Verstappen won the previous two seasons in Bahrain, positioning him as a strong contender for the Drivers’ title. However, a recent pre-season test in Bahrain hinted that he might not replicate his success in Melbourne. Red Bull faced challenges during testing, affecting Verstappen’s performance and raising questions about the team’s standing compared to McLaren. Verstappen acknowledged that McLaren might be the favorite in the upcoming races and expressed the need for improvements within Red Bull. Despite improvements in balance with the RB21, Verstappen remains concerned about the team’s performance on tracks with uneven surfaces. Overall, Red Bull is focused on addressing these challenges and making progress throughout the season.
