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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on during the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Cooler Runnings event at Station Pier, Port Melbourne ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing looks on during the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Cooler Runnings event at Station Pier, Port Melbourne ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
On February 24, Max Verstappen got behind the wheel of the new RB16B, the car Red Bull has developed for 2021. The Dutchman pushed the limits of the car at the Silverstone circuit.
Although the RB16B has been heavily influenced by its predecessor, the RB16, the 23-year-old still had to get grips with new machinery to find its differences and the strengths of the car.
Furthermore, Verstappen was accompanied by his new teammate, Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez to push the car to its limits and to understand the strengths of the car around the 5.8 km track.
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SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA – JULY 01: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on July 1, 2018 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Max Verstappen feels the power of the RB16B
The Dutchman got the keys to new car just days after the car was launched on February 23. However, Verstappen drove the RB15 first before switching to its latest upgrade.
Verstappen said, “I started with the RB15 to just get a few laps in after the winter break and then I jumped into the RB16B. Days like today are all about getting comfortable with the car and with the new power unit, trying to make things run smoothly and trying to be well prepared before we go testing in Bahrain.
“It’s always good to be back driving a Formula One car and the first time you go out of the pits is such a great feeling.”
The 23-year-old is raring for the upcoming season and hopes the car can compete with the top teams on the grid.
A new season but the goal remains the same
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The Milton Keynes-based outfit finished second in the constructors’ championship behind arch-rivals, Mercedes. Verstappen finished third in the drivers’ championship, behind Bottas and seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull needs all their engines fired up, if they want to win both the tiles in F1 and be the force they once were. Hence, they decide to bring in Perez, who is extremely talented and with the help of Max can push the team forward.
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MONTMELO, SPAIN: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing Red Bull-TAG Heuer RB13 TAG Heuer on track during day two of Formula One winter testing at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The RB16B will see its competition for the first time for the opening race in Bahrain. Only time will tell if Red Bull has made a car that can fight and be the dominant one on the track and possibly win the championship.
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Also Read: ‘Will He Make More Mistakes?’ – F1 Analyst Believes Sergio Perez Can Rattle Max Verstappen
