Pink Bull admitted F1 testing was “not as clean” as they anticipated with query marks over their tempo in comparison with obvious pace-setters McLaren forward of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Throughout the three days of testing in Bahrain, Pink Bull accomplished the least variety of laps as Max Verstappen set the second-best time of the final day on Friday behind George Russell.
However, the RB21 was usually within the storage because the crew made modifications all through the check but in addition suffered a water strain failure on Thursday.
Neither Verstappen or Liam Lawson accomplished a full race simulation both, which might have been the perfect indicator of Pink Bull’s tempo.
“It was not as clean a check as we anticipated and the crew anticipated, however it’s higher to search out some issues right here than later down the road and it’s why we’re right here, to know the automobile,” mentioned technical director Pierre Wache.
“The climate was not with us and never very consultant of this observe, however we tried to discover the potential of the automobile and tried to know the way it responds to completely different set-ups, and I believe we kind of achieved that.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Ted Kravitz and Bernie Collins take an in-depth take a look at the automobiles after the ultimate day of Formulation 1 testing
“I believe it is very tough to see a beginning order for Melbourne throughout the grid proper now, you see that 4 groups look fairly fast, together with us, however we did not look an excessive amount of at different groups, we tried to concentrate on our programme.
“I’m not as completely satisfied as I might be as a result of the automobile didn’t reply how we wished at occasions, however it’s getting into the suitable course, simply possibly the magnitude of the course was not as huge as we anticipated and it is one thing we have to work on for the primary race and future growth.”
Verstappen: Work to do however testing ‘wasn’t unhealthy’
Verstappen has the chance to equal Michael Schumacher’s document of 5 consecutive titles this yr however Lando Norris goes into the season as favorite after McLaren impressed probably the most in testing.
On the second day of testing, Norris was round one second faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli through the remaining stint of their respective race simulations, albeit on a sooner tyre.
Lewis Hamilton identified that Verstappen had a “respectable” long term on the final morning however the Dutchman performed down expectations.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris had a hilarious response when requested how their relationship is now after their clashes on the observe final season
“I believe we had an honest final day, there have been a couple of little issues however general, we accomplished fairly a little bit of what we wished to do,” he mentioned.
“I believe it wasn’t unhealthy however on the identical time there’s nonetheless a bit of labor to do. Nevertheless, it’s what we anticipated and we’ll carry on working and carry on attempting to enhance and hopefully, as we go into Melbourne, we’ll be taught a bit extra by going by means of all the info and see the place we’re at.
“It’s tough to inform the place everybody’s tempo is, so there’s nonetheless a bit of labor to do for us. We’re trying ahead to beginning racing correctly once more in Australia.”
Haas driver Esteban Ocon and Pink Bull’s Verstappen each spun uncontrolled on the identical flip through the closing levels of testing
When is the primary F1 race?
For the primary time since 2019, the season-opener might be held in Melbourne on the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. The primary race has switched from Bahrain to Australia as a result of Ramadan happening all through March.
There are 24 occasions on the 2025 F1 calendar, the identical quantity as final yr, with the season ending on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7.
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formulation 1 season dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
