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Red Bull can't win the Australian Grand Prix, concedes Verstappen
Reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen believes Red Bull does not have a car capable of challenging for victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Verstappen claimed a fourth consecutive world title despite his team's struggles last year, which saw Red Bull slide down to third in the constructors' championship.
The Dutchman won seven of the first 10 races in 2024, but managed just two victories for the rest of the season as McLaren and Ferrari dominated the field.
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Verstappen has won two of the last four F1 races after failing to win any of the previous 10, though.
However, he has failed to take the pole in any of the last 13 races in the competition, his worst run since a run of 17 between Abu Dhabi 2019 and Sakhir 2020.
He also has the chance to become the fifth driver to take the pole position in the first race of the year in three consecutive seasons after Stirling Moss (three - 1959, 1969 and 1961), Mika Hakkinen (three - 1998, 1999 and 2000), Jim Clark (four - 1963 to 1964) and Lewis Hamilton (six - 2014 to 2019).
But after Red Bull completed the fewest laps in pre-season testing, Verstappen seemed pessimistic about his chances in Melbourne this weekend.
"I don't think we can fight for the win already in Melbourne," Verstappen told Dutch media at an event on Friday.
Verstappen will, however, be hopeful of fairing better in Melbourne this time around, having been forced to retire on the fourth lap due to brake failures
The Dutchman's closest rival last year, Lando Norris, has been tipped as the favourite to lift the crown in 2025, as McLaren look to build on their impressive rise this season.
Indeed, after a pole position and winning the final race of 2024, Norris could make it two races with pole position and win in a row for the first time in his F1 career this weekend.
And when asked who might fight Red Bull for the championship, Verstappen pointed to Norris' McLaren team, with the Briton also backed up by Oscar Piastri.
"At the moment, only one, and that team is orange! That's a very nice colour of course, but from our side, we still have work to do," Verstappen added.
"Other teams want to see some improvements as well, I think, so at the moment one team is clearly in front.
"If you look at the lap times, then I think McLaren is the favourite.
"On our side, not everything went completely smoothly, but on the other hand, we have some ideas on how to improve."
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