(Melbourne) Unfazed in the midst of the turmoil that continues to shake Red Bull, its reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is aiming for a tenth Grand Prix success in a row this weekend in Australia, which would allow him to equal his record.
On the eve of the third meeting of the season, the Dutchman and his Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez have already confirmed the excellent form of the Austrian team, taking the first places after the first two Grands Prix, in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia.
Welcome performances for Red Bull which, undermined by the internal fights revealed last February by the “Horner affair” – named after the team boss Christian Horner, recently weakened by accusations of “inappropriate behavior” towards an employee and since cleared –, continues to arouse interest.
At the beginning of March, Jos Verstappen attacked Horner just after his son’s victory in Bahrain, ensuring that there is “tension (in the team) as long as he remains in place. The team risks tearing itself apart. She can’t continue like this. It’s going to explode,” he said.
A comment which fueled the rumor that Max Verstappen could leave the team as early as 2025, if influential Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko leaves. The Dutchman is contracted until the end of 2028 at Red Bull, but would have a clause to leave earlier, according to the press.
“With this contract, my intention is to stay here until the end,” Verstappen said on Thursday. “I have always felt comfortable (at Red Bull, Editor’s note), because for me, it’s like a second family.”
Ferrari wants to “put pressure” on Red Bull
Several teams, including Mercedes, which has a seat available from 2025 after the departure of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, are undoubtedly dreaming of securing Verstappen’s services.
“I would love to have it, but first we have to improve the car,” team principal Toto Wolff said in early March.
And for good reason: Mercedes is still trying to get rid of performance problems, two years after the arrival of new technical regulations.
The team has gradually raised the bar, arriving at the gates of the 2024 vintage full of optimism, but, for the moment, it is still struggling to meet its ambitions.
After two GPs, the German manufacturer has never done better than a 5e place, won in Bahrain by George Russell. The team is currently ranked 4e place among manufacturers, behind Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Ferrari which currently appears to be the “best of the others” behind Red Bull. Enough to try to rise to the level of the RB20 in Melbourne?
If the Scuderia is banking on an “aggressive approach” in order to “put pressure” on the Red Bulls, “the gap remains significant” in the race, Charles Leclerc, 3, conceded on Thursday.e of the championship behind Verstappen and Pérez.
PHOTO JAIMI JOY, REUTERS
Charles Leclerc
“However, we are in a much better situation than last year,” also affirmed the Monegasque, who had abandoned in Australia in 2023.
New record in sight for Verstappen
His Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz must return to his seat this weekend two weeks after his appendicitis operation, on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabian GP.
Winner last year in Australia after a chaotic GP, Verstappen is still logically the favorite this year, such has been his insolent domination in recent years.
If he wins on Sunday at the Albert Park track, “Mad Max” would equal his record for consecutive victories. In 2023, the reigning champion had won ten Grands Prix in a row, breaking the record of the German Sebastian Vettel (9 victories in a row in 2013).
Before the Australian GP, Verstappen already has a 15-point lead over Pérez and 23 over Leclerc.