Verstappen keen to move on from Bahrain blank

JEDDAH: Formula One world champion Max Verstappen goes into Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix keen to get over Red Bull's "double-DNF" hangover and get his title defence going after starting the season with a blank in Bahrain.

The Dutchman was on course to finish second at the Sakhir season opener after engaging in a race-long battle with Ferrari's winner Charles Leclerc.

But his car expired three laps from the end with Mexican team mate Sergio Perez following him into retirement on the final lap.

Red Bull identified a fuel system problem as the cause but have not given details about an issue that handed them their first double non-finish (DNF) since their home 2020 season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

"Last weekend was a tough one for all of us to take, we win and lose as a team and we’ll come back stronger this week," said 24-year-old Verstappen.

"We have a good package and we were competitive in Bahrain, so there are positives to take from the weekend, and we have a very long season ahead."

Verstappen will also want to banish the memory of last year's race around Jeddah's fast and unforgiving street circuit.

The Dutchman crashed in qualifying and finished a chaotic race second behind Briton Lewis Hamilton after another controversial collision between the pair.

Hamilton is unlikely to be caught in such a tussle this year, however, with once-dominant Mercedes still wrestling with 2022's rules overhaul.

The constructors' champions were only third fastest in Bahrain behind Ferrari and Red Bull, although Hamilton still salvaged third thanks to the retirement of the Red Bulls.

"We know the W13 has potential," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

"We need to continue learning, find out how to unlock it, and maximise our opportunities for