This weekend Max Verstappen begins his quest for a fifth consecutive Formulation 1 Drivers’ Championship, a feat that has occurred simply as soon as within the sport, when Michael Schumacher secured 5 titles from 2000 to 2004.
However forward of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen reiterated that he’s not the present favourite because the season begins.
“Unimaginable to know in the meanwhile,” mentioned Verstappen at Thursday’s FIA Press Convention in Melbourne. “I imply, I do know that we aren’t the quickest in the meanwhile, however once more, it’s a really lengthy season. When you would have requested that query right here final 12 months after which on the finish of the season once more, you recognize it appeared utterly completely different. So numerous issues can at all times change fairly shortly in Formulation One.”
Requested concerning the points Crimson Bull had with the RB20, final season’s challenger, and whether or not these could have carried over to the RB21, Verstappen outlined that it’s too early to know for certain.
“Yeah, I imply, we’ll do our greatest to make it as aggressive as potential. In fact, it’s the ultimate 12 months of those laws, so I assume as much as a sure level—and I don’t know the place that’s—you concentrate on this 12 months, after which in some unspecified time in the future, you concentrate on an entire completely different factor,” mentioned Verstappen. “We’ll make it extra drivable, however Bahrain could be very completely different to what we now have right here, so it’s a bit troublesome to say if issues have been totally mounted or not. I assume we simply must be affected person and see how a lot we are able to regain.”
Verstappen additionally demurred when requested if 2025 can be his hardest title protection but.
“I don’t know. I don’t give it some thought. There’s no motive to consider that but,” mentioned the Crimson Bull driver.
Verstappen has received the final two season openers, each of which had been held in Bahrain. However the Australian Grand Prix has been one thing of a blended bag for the Crimson Bull driver. Whereas he received in Melbourne in 2023, that victory is bracketed by a pair of retirements, first in 2022 when his RB18 suffered a gas problem, after which final 12 months when his RB20 caught hearth as a consequence of a brake duct problem.
In all Verstappen has extra retirements in Australia — three — than his podiums.
In the mean time, Verstappen appears unsure over whether or not he’ll even the rating in Melbourne this weekend.
