MELBOURNE (AFP) – Two-time world champion Max Verstappen is banking on Red Bull ironing out its reliability issues as he targets a second Formula One win of the season at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix – a race he failed to finish last year.
The Dutchman drove superbly in an action-packed grand prix in Saudi Arabia a fortnight ago, slicing through the field to finish second behind teammate Sergio Perez.
But after dominating the early practice in a super-fast car, Verstappen was fuming when a driveshaft issue in qualifying forced him to start from 15th.
Conscious that an engine fire ruined his Melbourne race last year, the 25-year-old is desperate 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 said ahead of the third grand prix of the season at Albert Park.
“It’s not only about the pace of the car, we need to make sure we are reliable without any issues.
“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 hold off his charging teammate and convert pole position to his first win of the season and fifth overall.
Team boss Christian Horner called it his best-ever drive, and the Mexican intends to keep the pressure 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 said. “At the moment, I am feeling very comfortable with the car.”
With Red Bull already dominant, finishing 1-2 in both grand prix this year, they could benefit further by the introduction of a fourth drag reduction system (DRS) zone in Melbourne – already one of the fastest tracks on the calendar.
DRS allows drivers to open a flap mounted on the rear wing to increase top speed and aid overtaking manoeuvres, and Red Bull’s scintillating straight-line power will potentially mean new lap records.
