F1 News: Max Verstappen Gives Insight On RB19 Performance After First Shakedown

The two-time champion gives his verdict on the RB19.

Two-time F1 champion Max Verstappen shared his initial thoughts on the Red Bull RB19 after taking it out for the first time for a filming day. 

The Belgian-Dutch driver shared a video to Instagram of him reflecting on trying out the 2023 car for the first time. He explained:

"I’ve just driven the RB19 for the first time. It was a good first impression. Everything worked really well."

Verstappen is heading into the 2023 season looking to defend the championship title and will be hoping for a car that will be competitive enough to fight for a third championship win. 

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been open about how the cost cap penalties are hindering the team this year. It was revealed during 2022 that the Austrian team had exceeded the cost cap limit for the 2021 season, and so they were handed a $7 million fine and a 10% reduction in wind tunnel time for the 2023 season.

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Horner has explained that this means the team are having to be much more efficient with their testing on the RB19. This, coupled with Mercedes' developments found in 2022 and them receiving more wind tunnel time than 2022 for coming third in the constructors' championship, means the Brackley-based squad are looking to be more of a threat this year. 

Verstappen continued in the video following the filming day at the Silverstone track:

"Everything went really smooth, so that’s exactly what you want from a day like this and I am now of course very excited to go to Bahrain.”

The Bahrain Grand Prix will open the 2023 season on 3-5 March with the pre-season, also in Bahrain, on the 23-25 February. The season will consist of a record-breaking 23 races, including the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix as the penultimate race of the year.