Max Verstappen believes Red Bull’s pace deficit to Formula 1 frontrunners Mercedes and Ferrari is “not shocking” with no one area predominantly to blame for the shortcomings.
Verstappen recovered from the back of the order to finish in sixth place at the Albert Park season opener which saw F1 race to an entirely new set of technical regulations for the first time.
The Dutchman took the flag over 54 seconds behind race-winner George Russell, and although he was unable to set a qualifying time on Saturday, team-mate Isack Hadjar qualified third, but near eight-tenths off the pace.
Last term, Red Bull bounced back from a difficult start with a strong development curve that saw Verstappen able to gatecrash the title battle.
Asked by Crash.net whether a similar trajectory could be possible this time around, he said: “We have potential in the car, for sure. Engine side, we’re not too bad. At the moment, I think where our pace is lacking is half/half, so half car and half engine, which is not bad. Those are things that can be overcome. It’s not shocking.
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“I’m very negative about the rules, but I do feel really proud of the team and the engine side as well. The guys really have done an amazing job. So from that side, I’m really happy to be working with them, I just wish that I enjoyed it a bit more driving-wise.
“But still, they have done an incredible job to be where we are, to be fighting with McLaren with a Mercedes engine, and I think if we improve a little bit, we can fight also a little bit further up front, and then suddenly the world looks a little bit better.
“The rules are still the same, but the world does look a bit better in terms of how competitive we are. I do hope that of course that within a few races we can take a little step forward.”
The Dutchman is among a number of drivers to have voiced their concerns over the ‘chaotic’ racing, something he had ample opportunity to sample as he battled back to the points.
Across the weekend, Ferrari continued it’s strong showing from pre-season testing but was unable to trouble Mercedes in qualifying, with Hadjar also toppling both cars. In the race, however, Ferrari made an improved showing.
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“I was a bit surprised yesterday in qualifying,” said Verstappen. “I thought there was a little bit more to come from them, but I guess it just didn’t work out. In the race, they were not too bad.”
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