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Max Verstappen isn’t getting carried away with Red Bull’s positive results in testing, realising what lies ahead in the 2026 season.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull made quite a strong impression during preseason testing. After what can be considered a down year, Red Bull looks to have the pace again.
Red Bull is set to be super aggressive in their performance approach to start the season, which could be risky given how important engine and tyre management are going to be under the new F1 regulations.
What do you expect from Max Verstappen in the 2026 F1 season?
Verstappen is considered one of the top contenders to win the drivers’ championship this year. Even the favourite to win it all, George Russell, refuses to rule out Verstappen as a competitor.
But is Verstappen making sure that expectations are tempered ahead of the start of the season? His comments during media day in Australia seem to suggest he isn’t fully confident in Red Bull’s chances.
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Max Verstappen aware Red Bull not quite at the level of Ferrari and Mercedes this season
Max Verstappen spoke to reporters ahead of the Australian Grand Prix about how he is feeling heading into a new season.
While Verstappen admitted that things have gone as well as they could have for Red Bull, he has planned for the team needing a lot of work and a little luck to compete with Ferrari and Mercedes.
“We had quite a decent preseason. It’s been a big learning curve. But we’ve been running well, doing a lot of laps. There’s not actually a lot that we could have wished for that could have gone better.”
“But in terms of performance, I think we have quite a bit of work to do to be up front. But this is all that I had already planned for it to be like that.”
It seems as though Verstappen understands that Red Bull don’t have quite enough to be at the top of the pack from the get-go, and that he and the team need to get the most out of the car to find success.
READ MORE: James Hinchcliffe changes his mind to back Max Verstappen over George Russell for the 2026 F1 title
Should F1 bosses have been ‘tougher’ on Max Verstappen after he criticised the 2026 rules?
Max Verstappen proving to be biggest wild card ahead of 2026 season
It’s hard to get a real grasp of where Max Verstappen lies among the drivers on the grid in the 2026 F1 season. There’s no denying his talent, but his comments skewed his perception both ways.
Verstappen has been critical of the new F1 regulations, which seem to suggest that he isn’t going to be fully comfortable on the track once the season starts.
However, a driver as gifted as he is likely to figure things out sooner than most others. But then there are comments like the one he made above, which seem to suggest he has a plan to handle himself.
Perhaps we’ll only have a true idea of Max Verstappen’s prospects this season after the first race of the season, as Australia promises to be one of the most enlightening season openers in recent F1 history.
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