BAHRAIN — Max Verstappen stopped wanting predicting a fourth straight Method One world championship however mentioned Crimson Bull’s new automobile has made a step ahead from the crew’s report breaking 2023 mannequin.

Verstappen received a report 18 instances final yr as Crimson Bull claimed victory in all however one grand prix.

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The crew’s new automobile, the RB20, featured a radically completely different design to its predecessor however Verstappen was ominously quick out of the blocks on Wednesday.

Rival groups imagine Crimson Bull are the clear favourites in 2024 and might be near half a second per lap faster, a big margin in F1 phrases.

Requested Friday if the brand new automobile is best, Verstappen mentioned: “If it could have been worse then we did a really dangerous job!

“For certain the automobile is best than final yr’s automobile, however I believe everybody on the grid has a greater automobile than final yr.

“The crew believes with how the automobile is for the time being there’s extra potential to search out. That is now for us to unlock.”

Lingering over preseason testing for Crimson Bull is the way forward for crew boss Christian Horner, who’s topic to an ongoing investigation into an allegation of inappropriate behaviour.

Sources have instructed ESPN a choice on the investigation is predicted early subsequent week forward of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which kicks off the season on March 2.

Horner has labelled the investigation a distraction for the upcoming marketing campaign however Verstappen mentioned it has not negatively impacted preparations.

“I can not discuss issues,” Verstappen mentioned on the matter.

“It is higher that I simply focus by myself efficiency as a result of that is already a day job.

“However I assume after all, for everybody, it [will be] good when issues are resolved however that is the one factor I can say about that.

“Everybody who’s right here, they’re all specializing in the efficiency of the automobile, as they need to, and what’s their function. Everybody could be very centered on making the entire bundle quicker.”