Two-time world champion Max Verstappen is hoping that Red Bull will handle its reliability points with a view to give him the very best probability at claiming his second Formula One win of the season on the upcoming Australian Grand Prix on Sunday – an occasion he sadly did not end final 12 months.
The Dutchman drove beautifully in an action-packed grand prix in Saudi Arabia two weeks in the past, slicing by the sphere to complete second behind teammate Sergio Perez.
But after dominating the early observe in a super-fast automobile, Verstappen was fuming when a driveshaft problem in qualifying compelled him to start out from fifteenth.
Conscious that an engine hearth ruined his Melbourne race final 12 months, the 25-year-old is determined for a trouble-free weekend.
“I recovered to second which is good, and in general the whole feeling in the team, everyone is happy, but personally I’m not happy, because I’m not here to be second,” he mentioned forward of the third grand prix of the season at Albert Park.
“It’s not solely concerning the tempo of the automobile, we want to verify we’re dependable with none points.
“When you’re fighting for a championship and especially, you know, when it looks like it’s just between two cars, we have to make sure that also the two cars are reliable.”
Perez reeled off a masterful triumph in Saudi Arabia to carry off his charging teammate and convert pole place to his first win of the season and fifth total.
Team boss Christian Horner known as it his best-ever drive, and the Mexican intends to maintain the stress on Verstappen in Australia.
“I don’t know if it’s my best weekend so far with the team, but I’m sure Melbourne will be even better,” he mentioned. “At the moment, I am feeling very comfortable with the car.”
With Red Bull already dominant, ending 1-2 in each grand prix this 12 months, they might profit additional by the introduction of a fourth drag discount system (DRS) zone in Melbourne – already one of many quickest tracks on the calendar.
DRS permits drivers to open a flap mounted on the rear wing to extend high pace and support overtaking maneuvers, and Red Bull’s scintillating straight-line energy will doubtlessly imply new lap information.
Need assist
The actual battle Sunday is prone to be among the many better of the remaining, with veteran Fernando Alonso in prime place in his vastly improved Aston Martin.
The 41-year-old Spaniard, who gained in Australia 17 years in the past when piloting a Renault, completed third in Jeddah to clock the one hundredth podium of his profession – solely the sixth driver to realize the feat.
Starting second, he led briefly earlier than the Red Bulls kicked in, and he is aware of a mistake is required from Verstappen or Perez to win his first Formula One race in a decade.
“We need some help from them, but it will happen eventually when they cannot finish always first and second,” mentioned the two-time world champion, who believes his automobile was higher in Jeddah than the season-opening race at Bahrain.
A flawless Charles Leclerc led all the best way for a commanding win in Australia final 12 months, however it has been a sobering begin to the 12 months for Ferrari as they wrestle with energy and reliability points.
Leclerc managed solely seventh in Jeddah, leaving the workforce with their work minimize out.
But Mercedes – who gained eight successive constructors’ titles earlier than Red Bull claimed their crown final 12 months – took positives from the final race, the place George Russell got here fourth and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton fifth.
“I think we saw some performance gains to Bahrain, which is encouraging,” mentioned workforce chief Toto Wolff. “It shows us that the development trajectory is going in the right direction.”
Nearly 420,000 spectators poured into Albert Park final 12 months – a file – and organizers count on much more this weekend at one of many sport’s hottest venues.
Many shall be cheering on Oscar Piastri in his debut dwelling grand prix because the McLaren driver works to raised his fifteenth in Saudi Arabia. He failed to complete in Bahrain.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
