The Dutch driver Max Verstappen has expressed that the Red Bull Racing team does not expect to compete for victory in the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, which will take place on March 8 at Albert Park. Despite this, the world champion is confident in the 2026 season project.
In his first appearance after the preseason tests in Bahrain, Verstappen commented that, despite having had a preparation without significant incidents, the team needs to improve the car’s performance to be among the leaders. “We feel good overall, because we managed the tests without many issues, but we need to take another step to truly compete at the front,” said the driver.
From his perspective, the introduction of a new engine and the current regulations have complicated immediate performance expectations. “We had to be realistic. We didn’t expect everything to work perfectly from the first moment with these changes,” he added.
Verstappen also expressed pride in the advances made during the tests, commenting that rivals have acknowledged the positive effects of Red Bull’s improvements. However, he reaffirmed that work must continue to find more power in the engine: “There is always room for improvement, and we are aware that each circuit presents its own challenges, especially in Melbourne, where energy management is critical.”
In summary, Verstappen is optimistic yet realistic about short-term expectations. Although the initial tests have been encouraging, the path to returning to competition for victory will be difficult in a season with so many variations.