P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has been significantly tempering expectations over how well he and Red Bull will perform in the Australian Grand Prix – and the Dutchman is not alone in his thinking.
Juan Pablo Montoya supports Max Verstappen’s pessimistic view on Red Bull’s chances in Melbourne, stating that the team currently has the fourth-best car on the grid. Red Bull’s performance this year is a stark contrast to their dominant form in 2023, where they won 21 out of 22 races. Verstappen, acknowledging the team’s struggles, doesn’t see a path to victory at Albert Park, especially after a challenging pre-season with reliability issues and driver discomfort in the RB21. McLaren appears strong, with Ferrari and Mercedes also posing competitive threats ahead of Red Bull. Montoya believes that many teams, including McLaren, are hiding their true potential, making the competition tough for Red Bull in the upcoming race.
