Max Verstappen teases Red Bull’s ‘ideas’ for Australian GP to bounce back after testing

Max Verstappen signaled that Red Bull might have some ideas in store for the season opener in Australia this weekend.

Max Verstappen teases Red Bull’s ‘ideas’ for Australian GP to bounce back after testing

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing face a big test in 2025 after a difficult last season. The reigning world champion will need to battle the likes of Ferrari and McLaren to defend his title yet again. Now, Verstappen has hinted that Milton Keynes has a few ideas to test out at the Australian GP this weekend.

The Dutch driver had mixed reactions during preseason testing at Bahrain’s Sakhir International Circuit. Max Verstappen initially claimed that everything was under control in the Red Bull garage. However, he later confessed that his team would definitely not be the fastest when the season began with the season opener in Melbourne.

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The four-time world champion reiterated that Red Bull learnt a lot during testing. However, the 27-year-old reaffirmed that there was still immense work pending for the Austrian team. Max Verstappen hinted that Milton Keynes got some ideas from testing which could help them extract more pace out of the RB21. Though, he mentioned that the team will adapt its approach once he hits the track in Melbourne.

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In Bahrain, we learnt a lot from Testing but there is still a lot more work to be done. We have ideas about what we can do and how we can take on what we learnt at Testing, so we will see how we go when we start driving on the track.

Max Verstappen told Red Bull

Max Verstappen recalls ‘memories’ from Australian GP

Melbourne’s Albert Park returns as the season opener in the F1 calendar this year after a gap of five seasons. The Australian circuit is a favorite for drivers and fans alike, with many drivers having made their F1 debut on this track. Max Verstappen took part in his first-ever F1 Grand Prix at this circuit as well, when he raced for Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) in 2015.

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via Motorsport.com)

The four-time world champion was delighted to be back from a long winter break. Verstappen insisted that it was nice to see Albert Park back as the first round of the season. He claimed that he has some great memories of the circuit since his first-ever F1 race. Moreover, the Dutch driver asserted that the fans at the track have always been very passionate.

It is great to be getting back to racing again and officially starting the season. It is good to see the first race of the season starting up in Melbourne; I drove my Formula One debut race here, so there are a lot of memories and we always see the passionate fans come out here to support.

Max Verstappen noted

Previously, Australian fans filled the grandstands for local hero Daniel Ricciardo. However, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will be the sole Aussie racing in Formula 1 this year. Though, fans from nearby New Zealand will be making their way to cheer Kiwi driver Liam Lawson for his first season at Red Bull alongside Verstappen.

Will Max Verstappen fight for victory in Australia?

2025 will not be an easy season for Max Verstappen and Red Bull. The grid has converged closer in the final year of the current regulations. It is expected that four teams might consistently battle one another for victories in the coming weeks. Milton Keynes will desperately need to bounce back after finishing third in the standings last season.

Max Verstappen driving the Red Bull RB21
Max Verstappen driving the Red Bull RB21 (image via F10

Max Verstappen will undoubtedly push himself to the limit in an attempt to win the Australian GP this weekend. However, a lot will depend on the pace of the RB21 in comparison to its rivals. Verstappen and Red Bull have hinted that the balance issues from last year have been solved. This could massively help the Dutch driver’s prospects.

It is likely that the four-time world champion will have a shot at victory this weekend. However, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson might not have the fastest car in Albert Park. This could add more pressure to the Red Bull garage if the team doesn’t manage the situation properly.

Nevertheless, Red Bull is an experienced team which knows how to deal with such situations. Max Verstappen will certainly stay focused on getting the best result possible even if he doesn’t have the pace for victory. The Dutchman is a wise driver who understands the need to do damage limitation whenever necessary before pushing himself to the limit when he knows he can emerge victorious.