Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull have made major improvements over the winter in a blow to rivals Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Verstappen made the claim at Thursday’s press conference to set a benchmark just a day before the start of on-track action.
F1 interviewer Tom Clarkson asked Vertsappen where the car had improved compared to last year’s RB18. Verstappen quickly responded: “Everywhere. That’s the aim I mean you always try and improve it.
“It feels nice, well balanced of course and every team of course lost a bit of performance with the floor but you always try and gain it back in a way. So you have to of course find a new balance with the car but it’s been good.”
The Dutchman dominated in 2022 with 15 race wins over the course of the season to set a new record. Verstappen is the pre-season favourite after Red Bull enjoyed a trouble free run over pre-season testing in Bahrain.
READ MORE: Horner on how he ‘switches off’ from masterminding Verstappen success
Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson revealed he was not shocked at Verstappen’s confidence after a positive test for the reigning champions. He admits the remarks were a “warning shot” to their rivals who will have to work flat out to close the gap.
Davidson explained: “It’s what we saw. The evidence was there everyday in testing both [Sergio] Perez at the wheel and Max. I’m not surprised to hear those comments and it’s a warning shot to the rest of the teams when Max says the car’s better everywhere.
“That’s straight line, that’s traction, that’s high speed corners, that’s reliability. And you know what they’ve got the target on their back and everyone knows the work they have to do to close the gap. Let’s see if they can.”
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