Max Verstappen believes that Ferrari and Mercedes have improved significantly to close the gap to Red Bull in the run up to the 2023 F1 season.
Red Bull overcame initial reliability issues in early 2022 to battle its way to the Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships with 17 race wins in 2022.
Such was the extent of Verstappen’s dominance that the Dutchman won 15 races to set a new single-season record while also collecting the most points by a driver in a single campaign.
Ferrari failed in what appeared to be genuine title aspirations for the first time in years. Meanwhile, Mercedes was mired in mediocrity with the W13 for most of 2022, as they finished second and third in the standings, respectively.
Max Verstappen feels the title fight won’t be as elemental this time around, as both Ferrari and Mercedes have worked hard in the off-season on their rivals for the campaign.
Asked about Ferrari’s prospects this season during a press conference ahead of the 2023 Bahrain F1 GP, where Sportskeeda was also present, the reigning two-time world champion said:
“At Ferrari they have focused enormously on being quicker on the straights, but yes, that’s why you lose in the corners. So time will tell which was the right decision. Obviously you want to go fast on the straights, but you still have to have enough grip in a corner. You always have to try to find some balance.”
The 25-year-old believes that both Ferrari and Mercedes have worked on engine reliability, and that could go a long way to improve their chances and even usurp Red Bull. He added:
“Everyone is supposed to have worked on engine reliability. We’re doing well. Ferrari had to lower the engine a lot last year, and I think Mercedes found something too. So, I think the others have stepped up this time. area”. Maybe even more than us in terms of raw power, but in the end most of the performance has to come from the car.”
Max Verstappen remains mum on RB19’s chances of replicating his predecessor’s success
Max Verstappen has been relatively coy about his and Red Bull’s chances in 2023 with the RB19 after a dominating performance from its predecessor, the RB18.
After a record-breaking season in which he won his second World Drivers’ Championship title and catapulted Red Bull to its first Constructors’ crown since 2013, Verstappen is expected to continue to perform at this elevated level.
Looking ahead to pre-season testing in Bahrain before the first race in 2023, the two-time world champion is optimistic about what he can achieve without getting carried away for the moment.
In a press release issued by Red Bull, Max Verstappen said:
“I feel good and relaxed going into the 2023 season. I had a good rest and prepared well this year. Time is very limited in testing so I hope to have some solid days without too many problems, it’s important to have smooth sessions.” . .”
The Dutchman went on to add:
“The team has worked hard over the winter and I expect the RB19 to be another good car to challenge up front, but time will tell.”
Max Verstappen was forced to withdraw from last year’s Bahrain GP after delivering brilliant wheel-to-wheel action for most of the race with Charles Leclerc.
If he wins this year’s season opener, he will be the first driver since Nico Rosberg in 2015-2016 to end an F1 season and start the following campaign with back-to-back wins.