Verstappen exuding confidence after improvements ahead of new F1 season

When the lights go out next weekend in Bahrain to open the new Formula One season, the challenge for most of the grid is likely to feel familiar: catch Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

The world champion goes into the campaign brimming with confidence, while Mercedes and Ferrari must up their game to bring a highly desired three-way fight.

With the phoney war of testing at the Sakhir circuit coming to a close on Saturday, Verstappen and Red Bull concluded the three days with a quiet ease that reflects a team and driver enjoying the assurance that comes with a quick car running with metronomic efficiency.

On the final day of running, Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez was quickest with Lewis Hamilton three tenths back in second and Valtteri Bottas third for Alfa Romeo. Even given that it is foolhardy to read too much into testing, Verstappen, who topped the time sheets in three of the six sessions, was exuding an ominous calm as he revealed his car had only improved.

“It’s been very good, the car is working really well,” he said. “Very positive days for me and just in general enjoying driving the car. Overall, it’s definitely an improvement from last year.”

The Dutchman has two titles on the trot and must be favourite to make it a third. The car, an evolution of last year’s superlative model, looks to have maintained the advantage despite a reduction in wind tunnel time, a penalty imposed because of their budget cap breach. It was rock solid, displaying formidable pace and balance.

For Hamilton, while the Mercedes is a vast improvement on their recalcitrant ride of last year, it remains a work in progress. Hamilton endured the worst campaign of his 17-year career in 2022, finishing sixth and for the first time winless across a