The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend in Melbourne, and defending World Champion Max Verstappen has shared his thoughts on Red Bull Racing’s form heading into the Australian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman, who claimed his fourth Drivers’ Championship last year, believes the team is not “the quickest at the moment” but remains optimistic about their prospects over the course of the season.
Despite a dominant start in 2024, Red Bull faced stiff competition as McLaren and Ferrari surged ahead in the Teams’ Championship. Verstappen, however, managed to hold off a spirited challenge from Lando Norris to retain his title.
This season, Verstappen is joined by new teammate Liam Lawson, and the pair aim to address the team’s evolving challenges with their RB21 car.
Reflecting on pre-season testing in Bahrain, Verstappen noted improvements in the new RB21 but admitted that there’s still work to be done.
“Naturally there’s an improvement, but there are still things we want to do better,” he said.
As the teams transition from Bahrain to Melbourne, the reigning champion emphasized patience and adaptability, acknowledging that Formula 1 is a long and unpredictable season.
Verstappen is particularly focused on enhancing the car’s driveability while remaining mindful of the incoming 2026 regulation changes, which will demand significant engineering shifts.
“We’ll make it more driveable,” he said, adding that Red Bull is committed to extracting maximum performance from the current regulations before turning their attention to the new era.
As he defends his title for the fourth time, Verstappen offered a glimpse into his mindset. Trusting in his team and working tirelessly on and off the track, the Dutchman sees consistency and minimizing mistakes as the keys to success.
“It’s actually way more relaxing to just go into it, trust the people around you and go from there,” he remarked.
With a highly competitive grid and new partnerships forming across the paddock, the Australian Grand Prix promises an electrifying start to the season.
