Max Verstappen led day 1 testing session with his RB20 car, and the Dutch driver wasn’t even using his full potential during the sessions. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were photographed together during the session. The 2024 season is about to begin, with the first race just a week away. Pre-season testing gave fans an idea of what to expect. Red Bull showed impressive pace and development. Reports suggest that Verstappen didn’t even explore the full potential of the RB20, using a low hybrid engine mode during the testing session.
Verstappen recently commented on the speed of the RB20, expressing confidence in the car. He said that only time will tell how fast the challenger really is and smiled confidently. Verstappen also mentioned that, although the car is fast, its true speed will be revealed when competing against rival teams on the track.
In addition, Verstappen hinted at his chances in the qualifying session of the opening race in Bahrain. He confidently stated that he expects to make it through the first two qualifying sessions. This comment seemed to poke at his rivals, especially Hamilton, who will be leaving Mercedes after this season. Hamilton had already admitted that the RB20 would be the best car in the first race. Verstappen jokingly mentioned his hope to reach Q3 in Bahrain.
Verstappen praised the new car developed by Aero-genius. He emphasized that the appearance of the car doesn’t matter as long as it delivers great results. He also praised Red Bull for not being conservative and making changes to the already dominant RB19. Verstappen expressed full confidence in the challenger’s development by the team throughout the season. He believes that the team’s confidence in the chassis is enough to make him confident in his chances of winning the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Therefore, the season may be a repeat of the previous one, where Verstappen dominated. Rival teams are preparing to face the dominant Red Bulls and potentially provide some competition. Regardless, the team is expected to achieve great results and help Verstappen secure his fourth world championship.
