A brake duct failure at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix knocked Max Verstappen out of the race in the early stages. That opened the door for Carlos Sainz Jr., making a dramatic return to the grid after undergoing an emergency appendectomy during the previous race weekend, to secure the win.
Max Verstappen downplays chances at F1 Australian Grand Prix: ‘We need to improve’
Speaking with Viaplay ahead of the 2025 F1 season, Max Verstappen admitted he does not think he’ll be ‘in the fight’ in Melbourne
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 installment of the Australian Grand Prix, which kicks off the F1 season, Verstappen downplayed his chances of winning in Melbourne.
Verstappen joined Viaplay for a video interview as the Dutch outlet launched their coverage of the 2025 season, speaking from Monza where his GT team was testing ahead of the 2025 season. Asked about how he feels after F1 pre-season testing, the four-time Drivers’ Champion conceded that Red Bull has some work to do.
“There’s work to do. Looking at the lap times, I think McLaren will be the favorite,” began Verstappen. “Things didn’t run completely smoothly on our end, but we have some ideas on how to improve. I also spent a lot of time in the simulator, even yesterday with the team. I don’t think we’ll be in the fight for the win in Melbourne, but hopefully, we can implement some improvements over the next few races.”
Verstappen admitted that the team “expected a bit more” from pre-season testing.
“It’s never good enough, of course, but maybe we expected a bit more from Bahrain. After testing, you have time to analyse the data and draw conclusions,” added Verstappen. “I think things can be optimised further in Melbourne, but as I said, there are still things we need to improve.”
Last year’s challenger, the RB20, struggled over kerbs and bumps. Verstappen conceded that remains an issue with the RB21 in the early going.
“In terms of balance, the car feels more ‘together’ from turn-in to mid-corner,” added Verstappen. “But we’re still struggling with kerbs and bumps, which isn’t our strongest point. I keep emphasising that.”
Still, despite those struggles Verstappen did enough to clinch his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship last season, in a year that was testament to his remarkable consistency as a driver. Even with those issues with the RB20 Verstappen finished in the points in every race but one, the Australian Grand Prix. He also led the way with nine Grand Prix victories, enough to clinch the season title by the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
While he might struggle again in Australia to start the year, it is hard to count Verstappen out given that record of consistency.
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