The four-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen isn’t sugarcoating things when it comes to the upcoming Australian Grand Prix 2026 in Melbourne. He has admitted that Red Bull doesn’t have the speed right now. Despite long hours in the simulator and a bunch of upgrades after the season opener, he says the team still can’t match McLaren or Ferrari, especially when it comes to straight-line speed and car balance.
With the title fight already heating up, he’s not pretending things are fine. It feels like the usual order at the front could be changing this season.
Max Verstappen Announces Verdict On Red Bull RB22
The aura inside Red Bull’s garage before the Australian Grand Prix is quite unlike the usual one; it is very cautious. Famous for his straightforwardness, Verstappen warned the fans not to expect another one-man show from him this time in Melbourne. The management came to the conclusion after reviewing the data of the first practice sessions and the wind tunnel tests of the RB22 in Milton Keynes, that the car has not yet achieved the “sweet spot” to dominate the high-speed Albert Park circuit.
“If you look at performance, I do think we still need to make a step to truly compete at the front,” Verstappen said while talking to Viaplay during the F1 Pre-season Test in Bahrain.
“Because at the moment, I don’t think we will be fighting for the win. You have to stay realistic. But it was also not our expectation that this would immediately be the case, with the introduction of these new regulations and with our own engine,” he added.
New Era at Albert Park: What To Expect From The F1 2026 Season Opener (Australia)
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix isn’t just another race but a whole new chapter for Formula 1. Melbourne kicks things off on Sunday, March 8, and everyone’s eyes are glued to the track. This is the first real test for the wild new 2026-spec cars, running a full race distance.
While Verstappen and Red Bull aren’t sugarcoating their struggles, right now, everyone’s talking about McLaren and Ferrari. After a strong showing in Bahrain’s pre-season testing, they look like the teams to beat.
