Max Verstappen says Crimson Bull are “assured” they’ve made the suitable adjustments to their automobile as he seeks a fifth consecutive drivers’ title.
Verstappen’s fourth crown final yr was based on a dominant interval within the first 5 races earlier than .
The Dutchman drove an impressive season to defend his lead from Lando Norris, when the Briton’s McLaren was the sooner automobile within the second half of the yr.
Verstappen stated: “The event course we selected on the time confirmed a whole lot of promise, however sadly it did not work like that on observe so we needed to change a couple of issues.
“Now let’s hope that’s the proper course. We’re assured it’s the proper course however let’s examine how a lot we will extract out of it for this ultimate season with this automobile.”
The brand new automobile, the RB21, will run for the primary time in a brief ‘filming day’ take a look at in Bahrain on Tuesday earlier than the official pre-season take a look at begins on the identical observe on Wednesday.
Crimson Bull have launched some official pictures of the automobile however they had been taken in a studio and the automobile has been shot in low gentle, so any vital aerodynamic particulars are obscured.
Verstappen stated: “My motivation is there. Final yr was not easy however we nonetheless received the championship. I’m very excited to look forward and hopefully we will enhance our automobile, and that could be a motivation in itself.”
If he turns into champion once more, he will probably be solely the second driver in F1 historical past to win 5 titles in a row, after Michael Schumacher.
It’s the first time since 2005 that Crimson Bull have gone right into a season with out their design chief Adrian Newey. The design legend is becoming a member of Aston Martin on 3 March.
Verstappen stated: “I do not suppose we must always take into consideration that an excessive amount of. It’s finished. He isn’t there any extra. That is how it’s. It is the way it’s been final yr and I belief additionally the people who find themselves there in the mean time, we now have to do all of it collectively.
“It’s a workforce effort however I’ve a whole lot of respect for what Adrian has finished for the workforce, have an excellent relationship with Adrian and I’m excited for him to start out a brand new venture.”
Verstappen has a brand new team-mate this season in New Zealander Liam Lawson, after Sergio Perez was paid off final December following a second consecutive disappointing season.
Lawson has made it clear he is aware of his job is to help Verstappen as a lot as attainable.
“The workforce’s aim is to win the constructors’ (championship) and clearly they weren’t ready to do this final yr, and that is the clear aim going into this yr,” Lawson stated.
“So clearly we’re doing the very best job we will to make the automobile as quick as attainable, and for me if we’re able that we’re preventing for profitable the constructors’ then I am doing my job.
“That is actually the place the workforce’s aim for me and their expectation for me is at, outdoors of clearly my objectives for Formulation 1.”
