Max Verstappen Admits Red Bull Lacks Pace Ahead of F1 Aus GP

As the Formula 1 circus arrives in Melbourne for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, reigning world champion Max Verstappen has admitted that Red Bull is “not the quickest at the moment.” However, he remains confident that the team can improve as the season progresses.

After a dominant start to 2024, Red Bull came under increasing pressure from McLaren and Ferrari, eventually losing their grip on the Constructors’ Championship. Verstappen, however, managed to hold off Lando Norris to retain his Drivers’ title.

For the first time in three years, Red Bull is not the favorite for the Constructors’ Championship, opening at $7.50 with Nags.bet.

With the new season underway, Verstappen acknowledges that the RB21 still has room for improvement.

“We’ll try to do our best—there’s not really much more that we can do,” Verstappen said in Melbourne.

“Testing doesn’t last many days, so we found a few areas we can work on, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”

Despite admitting that the car doesn’t seem as competitive, top online bookmakers still have Verstappen at $5.50 to win in Australia.

The 27-year-old is partnered with Liam Lawson at Red Bull this year, with the team focused on refining the RB21 and making it “more drivable” than its predecessor.

While Verstappen believes the car is naturally an improvement, he remains cautious about how it will perform across different circuits this season.

“I know that we are not the quickest at the moment, but again, it’s a very long season,” he noted.

“If you had asked that question here last year, by the end of the season, the picture looked completely different. A lot can change very quickly in Formula 1.”

With this being the final season before F1’s 2026 regulation overhaul, Red Bull is balancing the need to maximize performance from its current package while preparing for the future.

As he gears up to defend his title, Verstappen remains focused on consistency and minimizing errors in what promises to be another fiercely competitive season against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.