 "Max Verstappen makes major Australian Grand Prix prediction: 'I don't think we can compete for victory in Melbourne'")
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen has been dominating Formula 1 ever since he dethroned British legend Lewis Hamilton from the top and denied him a record-breaking seventh drivers’ title in 2021. After his maiden triumph, Verstappen would go on to add three more titles to his collection, even in the see-saw 2024 season in which the Dutch star had endured a winless run for months and his team eventually conceded the constructors’ title to McLaren Racing.
Introducing our 2025 grid đź‘‹
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Hear from this year's full line-up over on our YouTube channel ▶️#F1
As far as his title defence in the 2025 season is concerned, Verstappen has already ruled out of the possibility of collecting a victory in the season-opening race in Melbourne, pointing towards the pace of his 2025 RB21 car as the reason and adding that it needs more work. The 27-year-old also admitted McLaren are the favourites heading into the new season.
Verstappen admits McLaren favourites for 2025 F1 season
“(There is work to do). I think McLaren is the favourite if you look at the lap times, and for us not everything went completely smoothly,” Verstappen was quoted as saying by RacingNews365.
“On the other hand, I think we do have some ideas on how to improve the car, I’ve also spent a lot of time in the simulator, for example, yesterday with the team.
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More Shorts“I don’t think we can compete for victory in Melbourne, but hopefully we will be able to make improvements within a few races,” Verstappen added.
Verstappen added that Red Bull expected a little more from the upgrades delivered to the car over winter, adding that results and data collected from pre-season testing in Bahrain were not up to mark for the team that’s based in Milton Keynes, UK.
Day three is done and dusted 💙✨
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 28, 2025
That’s a wrap on Testing in Bahrain; see you in Melbourne 🔜#F1Testing || #RedBullRacing pic.twitter.com/GuluGwlxY7
“It’s never good enough, of course, but I think we expected a tiny bit more from it ourselves.
“After the test, you do have time to go through the data and come to certain conclusions, but as I said, I think we do need to improve some things,” Verstappen added.
The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit this Sunday.
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