Verstappen Questions Red Bull's Win Chances Ahead of 2025 Australian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has expressed serious doubts about Red Bull's chances of winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, citing a lack of competitiveness compared to rivals McLaren. After a challenging pre-season testing in Bahrain, Red Bull's technical director acknowledged that the team encountered several issues with their new car, the RB21. Verstappen pointed out that only McLaren appears to be in contention for victory, stating, 'At the moment, only one team is clearly in front.' Despite some optimism for improvements ahead of the Melbourne race, he admitted that they still have significant work to do. This marks a shift from Red Bull's previous dominance, with McLaren having claimed the Constructors' title in 2024. Verstappen is seeking to match Michael Schumacher's record of five consecutive championships, but his current outlook is cautious as the new season begins.