Max Verstappen claims that Red Bull has improved in all areas ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign.
The claim will be an ominous message for the team’s rivals after Red Bull dominated the 2022 championship.
Verstappen took 15 grand prix victories en route to his second F1 title, which he cliched with several rounds to spare. Red Bull also comfortably won out in the Constructors’ Championship.
Following pre-season testing from Bahrain, Red Bull was many people’s pick as the favourite heading into the season-opening race.
“We had three really good days, I think in general the progress we made over the winter was very good,” Verstappen said.
“But we have to show it this weekend and not only this weekend but we have to continue to develop.”
When asked to expand on where Red Bull improved over the break, Verstappen replied: “Everywhere. That’s the aim. You always try to improve it. It feels nice, well balanced.
“Every team has lost a bit of performance with the floor but you always try to gain that back in a way so you have to find a bit of a new balance with the car but it’s been good.”
Rivals Ferrari and Mercedes are hoping to dethrone Red Bull this year, however the latter has admitted that contending for victory in Bahrain will be a stretch.
Ferrari is looking to end a title drought that dates back to the 2008 campaign, as its early season form in 2022 dipped away as the year wore on.
However, Verstappen insists that Red Bull is not focusing on its rivals, but instead is hoping to avoid making mistakes on the track.
“The teams close to us but also I think at the end of the day, from ourselves because we have to stay on top of things and we cannot afford to make too many mistakes,” he said.
“We’re not robots. Everyone makes mistakes but you try to minimise it.”
