Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix: Champion Max Verstappen doubts Red Bull can fight for the win

The F1 field hasn’t turned a practice lap for the season-opening race at Albert Park yet, but world champion Max Verstappen has already make a sobering call about Red Bull’s prospects.

Max Verstappen doubts he can fight for the win at the season-opening Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix as the world champion nominated rivals McLaren as the clear frontrunners in the world title hunt.

The Dutch star sealed a fourth straight world championship last year, but conceded Red Bull had “work to do” based on pre-season testing form in Bahrain.

Bookies have already installed McLaren’s Lando Norris as the favourite for this year’s world drivers’ championship and this week’s opening race at Albert Park where his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri will also be chasing home race glory.

Verstappen was the pole sitter in Melbourne last year, but was an early retirement from the race with a brake issue.

World champion Max Verstappen doubts he can challenge for the win at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

The Red Bull ace won seven of the first 10 races last season, but only managed two wins in the second half of the campaign as constructors’ champions McLaren stepped up their charge while Ferrari and Mercedes became more of a threat.

Verstappen didn’t display much confidence in Red Bull’s prospects – at least at the start of the season – when probed about the team’s chances ahead of the Australian race.

“I don’t think we can fight for the win already in Melbourne,” Verstappen said, as per motorsport.com.

Although Verstappen added: “Everything (on the car) can be set up a little bit better in Melbourne than in Bahrain.”

F1 pundits have widely tipped McLaren atop the pecking order after last month’s testing and Verstappen agreed they were the team to beat.

Asked how many teams could compete for the world titles in 2025, Verstappen was clear:

“At the moment only one, and that team is orange,” the 27-year-old said.

Red Bull star Max Verstappen said McLaren is the only team that can win. Picture: Getty

“That’s a very nice colour of course, but from our side, we still have work to do.

“Other teams want to see some improvements as well, I think, so at the moment one team is clearly in front.

“If you look at the lap times (from testing) then I think McLaren is the favourite.

“On our side, not everything went completely smoothly, but on the other hand we have some ideas on how to improve.”

Verstappen has a new teammate alongside him in 2025, New Zealand rookie Liam Lawson.

The four-time world champion had his only win at the Australian Grand Prix in 2023.

Originally published as Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix: Champion Max Verstappen doubts Red Bull can fight for the win