Max Verstappen has not held back in expressing his dissatisfaction with the performance of the RB21. The Red Bull Racing driver had higher expectations for the car during pre-season testing in Bahrain and has admitted that he does not feel optimistic about his chances heading into the Australian Grand Prix. According to Verstappen, McLaren appear to be the team to beat at Albert Park.

Verstappen’s frustration with Red Bull’s performance is nothing new. His concerns began to surface midway through last season and, despite the team’s efforts to address the issues, the Dutchman believes there is still a lot of work to be done. While he managed to secure a fourth consecutive world championship in 2024, he increasingly voiced his frustration with the car’s limitations as the season progressed.

The problems seem to have carried over into this season already. Red Bull have worked tirelessly to improve their package, but Verstappen remains unconvinced that the team are capable of dominating as they once did. His recent comments suggest that he no longer sees Red Bull as the clear favourites, a stark contrast to the confidence he exuded in previous seasons.

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No longer the team to beat?

Looking ahead to the Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen does not see himself as the frontrunner. Speaking at a fan event in Melbourne, the Red Bull driver admitted that his expectations before pre-season testing were much higher.

“Obviously I will do my best, but if you look at the test days, I personally expected a lot more,” Verstappen revealed. “When I look around, I can see that we are clearly not the fastest. I always want to be positive, but I know we still need to find some lap times to fight for victory.”

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Verstappen’s comments reflect a shift in the competitive landscape of Formula One. Last year, Red Bull were the undisputed benchmark, but as the 2024 season gets underway, the reigning champion admits that other teams have caught up. “If you look at last year, it is clear that we are no longer the fastest team. So we still have a lot of work to do,” he added.

McLaren, in particular, have emerged as serious contenders after a strong showing in Bahrain. Many in the paddock now see the Woking-based outfit as early favourites for the championship, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri leading the charge. And while Verstappen is eager to get started, he is realistic about his chances.

“I am looking forward to the season. Of course I would like to win every race, but that is not possible. We will see how it goes this weekend,” said Verstappen.

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More bad luck for Verstappen in Melbourne?

The Dutchman will be hoping for a much better result in Australia than last year. In 2023, Verstappen arrived in Melbourne with two race wins under his belt, but his campaign at Albert Park ended in disaster when his rear brakes caught fire and he was forced to retire.

“I’ve had a lot of bad luck here. I’ve had several mechanical problems,” he admitted. Indeed, Verstappen has failed to finish the Australian Grand Prix in two of the last three editions. However, he finally broke his winless streak in Melbourne last year, taking his first victory at the circuit. “That one win is great at least,” he admitted.

Despite his concerns about Red Bull’s performance, Verstappen remains hopeful that external factors could work in his favour. The prospect of rain in Melbourne could mix things up and allow him to capitalise on the tricky conditions. “I also understand that there is some rain in the air, so I am looking forward to that,” he said.

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However, Verstappen is well aware of the threat posed by McLaren, particularly from Norris and Piastri. Both drivers have shown strong form in pre-season and with Piastri racing in front of his home crowd, McLaren will be highly motivated to perform.

“I hope we will be a bit more competitive than in Bahrain. I don’t expect miracles and I’m sure we’ll see the orange cars at the front,” said Verstappen, referring to McLaren’s livery. With a touch of humour, he added: “At least it is a nice colour, that makes it a bit easier to swallow.

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A tough start to the season?

As the first race of the season approaches, Red Bull find themselves in an unfamiliar position – no longer the clear favourites. Verstappen’s comments suggest the team is still playing catch-up, while McLaren appear ready to challenge for victories.

With unpredictable weather and a highly competitive grid, the Australian Grand Prix could set the tone for a dramatic 2024 season. Whether Verstappen can overcome Red Bull’s current struggles remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – this year’s title fight is shaping up to be far more unpredictable than last year’s.

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MORE F1 NEWS – Vegas GP a financial flop for Liberty Media

Las Vegas was the latest circuit to feature on the F1 calendar. The inaugural event in 2023 was hyped to the Max with an opening ceremony where the drivers were presented rising up through the stage like an old fashioned whirler organ.

But come the first day on track, the show flopped, as a lose drain cover practically destroyed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari just minutes into the first practice session. FP1 was abandoned as the circuit was checked for other huge loose pieces of metal. 

The knock on effect saw FP2 begin at around 2am  but by then the ushers had completed their daily working hours allowance and there was the farcical sight of the fans who had stayed up, being evicted from the grandstands.

Further, there were rows with a number of hospitality venues along the route who had not partnered with the F1 road show. They were hit with big cash demands for each seat in their property otherwise they were threatened with…READ MORE ON THIS STORY