Max ready for the first race: 'The RB19 has good balance'

Published on 02 March 2023 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen started the first race weekend of the year with the usual PR and interview schedule of a Thursday before a Grand Prix. The reigning world champion was asked about last weekend’s pre-season test and if the new RB19 is a car that can defend both the drivers and the constructors crowns.

“We’ve had three really good testing days and we made a lot of progress over the winter. But now we have to show it on track this weekend and at the next few races. We’ll have to keep developing and adjust the car’s balance depending on the circuits. It’s going to be a long season, but the testing days went well.

The RB19 is an evolution of the championship winning RB18: “We've improved the car in all areas and that was our goal. The car feels good, with a good balance. Every team has lost performance with the change in regulations regarding the floor, but we all try to claw the performance back. It means you have to find the right balance again, and I think we’ve done that well.”

Nevertheless, Max expects strong competition. “Not just from the other top teams, but also ourselves; we have to keep on top of things and minimise mistakes. We’re not robots, everyone makes mistakes but we have to keep them to a minimum.”

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