Red Bull not the quickest but that can change: Verstappen

Verstappen starts his quest for a fifth successive drivers’ title at Albert Park with question marks over the pace of the Red Bull, with McLaren and Ferrari impressing the most in winter testing in Bahrain

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Formula One defending champion Max Verstappen downplayed Red Bull's chances at Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, saying the car is slower than their rivals and still working through some issues.

Verstappen starts his quest for a fifth successive drivers' title at Albert Park with question marks over the pace of the Red Bull, with McLaren and Ferrari impressing the most in winter testing in Bahrain.

"I know that we are not the quickest at the moment," Verstappen told reporters at Albert Park on Thursday.

"But, again, it's a very long season. If you would have asked that question here last year and at the end of the season again, you know, it would look completely different.

"So a lot of things can always change quite quickly in Formula One."

Verstappen said his car was an improvement on the one that he drove to sixth place at the final round of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi but there were still problems to iron out.

"I guess we'll find out more this weekend and after. But we'll try to do our best," he said.

"I mean, there's not really much more that we can do. I think (at) testing, there's not many days.