“Always like this!” Max Verstappen ridicules Mercedes’s sandbagging claims ahead of the F1 season opener in Bahrain

“Always like this!” Max Verstappen ridicules Mercedes’s sandbagging claims ahead of the F1 season opener in Bahrain

Max Verstappen

Mercedes seem to be unsatisfied with their performances in the Pre-season test in Bahrain. The 8-time World claimed the car was not as good as their rivals at Ferrari and Red Bull. But for most of the grid, this seems to be common knowledge that the Silver Arrows downplay themselves and hype their rivals in order to change the focus while they lay low in the shadows of their success!

Earlier driver Lewis Hamilton said he feels his team haven’t performed their best and there is a lot to improve for Mercedes. The 7-time World Champion sharply claimed, “At the moment, I don’t think we’ll be competing for wins” ahead of the season opener in Bahrain.

To which title rival Max Verstappen expressed his disbelief that Mercedes were not fully equipped to win the first race of the season. He also does not believe a word that Mercedes said and the team are “always like this.”

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Max Verstappen take a dig on Mercedes

Max Verstappen

Not just Lewis Hamilton, but teammate George Russell to make a statement saying Mercedes was “a step behind our rivals” as “the performance isn’t there”. The Brit believed Ferrari are the definite favourites due to their strong performance in the Pre-season testing. To which Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz quietly replied “typical Mercedes” and hushed the hype around the Paddock.

Max Verstappen supported Sainz’s comments by saying “If someone is doing well or a team that everyone expects to do well, then it’s: ‘Oh no, we’re definitely not the favourite’. And then a week later, when things do go well, all of a sudden it’s: ‘Oh no, but we turned it around completely within a week. Not normal, unbelievable work. Thanks to all people in the factory!’”

Verstappen also believes Ferrari look strong ahead of the first race. The Dutchman said they were “consistently fast” and “have a stable car at the moment,” after showing good results in the Pre-season testing in Bahrain. Despite the sandbagging and comments, the racers are expected to step up in their A-game when the Bahrain Grand Prix takes place from March 18-20.

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