“It’s a little improvement,” Max Verstappen expects enhanced performance from the RB19

Defending Champion Max Verstappen is delighted by Red Bull's positive strides.

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen became a 2 time Formula One World Champion in 2022 with 4 races to spare. The Dutchman produced indomitable performances all throughout 2022. He won 15 out of the 22 races and set the record for most wins in a season. Although his season got off to a shaky start due to performance and reliability issues with the RB18, Verstappen managed to piece it together towards the latter part of the year.

The start of 2022 produced a string of unsatisfactory results for Max Verstappen and the team. Red Bull Racing’s challenger was heavier than the competition and the powertrain’s reliability was questionable at best. The dutch driver failed to finish in the season opener in Bahrain as well as in Australia due to technical issues. He also collected rather unfortunate results in Monaco and Britain.

Three races in to the season in 2022, Verstappen was already 34 points behind his Championship rival Charles Leclerc. An astounding series of performances followed this streak of bad luck. The Red Bull driver continued to consistently put his team on the top step of the podium and eventually gained a comfortable lead in the driver’s championship.

FS Video

Max Verstappen is ‘confident’ about Pirelli’s new tire compound

The Reigning World champion is hungry to defend his title once again and anticipates extraordinary performance out of his new and improved RB19. In a recent interview, the defending Champion talked about his 2022 title-winning car’s weight related issues. “One we started to get rid of the weight, the car become more agile.” he stated.

Verstappen also went on to talk about Pirelli’s new tire compound for 2023. Notably, F1’s tire provider Pirelli has introduced a new dry compound which lies between the C1 and C2 compounds in the Pirelli tire spectrum. This will make the new addition the second hardest tire available to the teams. “With the new tires wi think it is a little improvement. We only tested it in Abu Dhabi, we have to see it on every track that it works everywhere.” he said. Verstappen seems to be approve of the new compound. He said, “I am confident that everything will be heading into the right direction.”

Max Verstappen x @EASPORTS

Soon…
#EAathlete pic.twitter.com/rZ9AOp5QYp
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) February 3, 2023

Red Bull revealed their 2023 livery in New York last week and are set to unveil their actual car in the pre-season test later this month. While Red Bull seem to have cured their issues with weight, the new challenge of mastering tire performance awaits them for 2023. It will be interesting to see if Red Bull are able to continue with their positive momentum and successfully defend their first constructor’s title in 8 seasons.