Max Verstappen clearly sees McLaren as the favorite for the World Championship, at least for the start of the season.
Given what happened during the pre-season tests in Bahrain, McLaren appears to be the absolute favorite, at least for the start of the season. The race pace simulation left little doubt among experts, who have identified the Papaya Team as the one to beat in 2025.
Max Verstappen shares the same view and, during an event in Zandvoort, responded to some questions starting with the values on the track. Here’s what he had to say: “At the moment, only one team is fighting for the World Championship, and that team is orange. Of course, it’s a very nice color, but we still have work to do. I believe that other teams will also want to improve, so right now, there’s only one team clearly ahead.”
The Dutch driver then added: “If you look at the lap times, I believe McLaren is the favorite. As for us, not everything has gone perfectly, but on the other hand, we have some ideas on how to improve. I’ve also spent a lot of time in the simulator, for example, just yesterday with the team.”
As for the RB21, it doesn’t seem to have been born under a lucky star, but there is room for improvement: “It’s never enough, of course. I think we expected a bit more in Bahrain, although after the tests, you have more time to analyze the data. Then, of course, you come to certain conclusions. I think the car can be better optimized in Melbourne compared to Bahrain, but as I said, I believe there are still some things to improve. I don’t think we’ll be able to fight for the win right away in Melbourne, but I hope we’ll manage to make improvements within a few races.”
Finally, he concluded: “In terms of balance, the car now gives a slightly better feeling when entering and at the apex of corners. But on the other hand, there are still issues with the curbs and bumps. These are obviously not our strong points, and I keep insisting on this element. It’s not always necessary to say it out loud, of course, but we talk about it frequently in meetings.”
