Revamped Red Bull ready to take on the might of Mercedes - Verstappen

Max Verstappen is confident Red Bull can take the fight to Formula 1 rivals Mercedes this season following the raft of changes to this season's car.

The RB16 that takes to the Red Bull Ring circuit today for the first practice session of a long-awaited campaign will carry a significant package of upgrades, as well as a spec-two Honda engine.

With Ferrari failing to bring any upgrades to the season-opening double-header in Austria, as the Scuderia has been forced to alter its development path after poor pre-season testing results, the path appears clear for Red Bull to lead the challenge against Mercedes.

"We are definitely in a good position," said Verstappen. "We kept pushing, bringing all the parts here already, having an upgraded engine. It's a good start.

"Of course, all those things were scheduled, but to be able to bring it here after a four-month lay-off, that's good.

"I'm really looking forward to getting started and then finding out where we are because after such a long break, and only having done winter testing, which is always a little bit of a question mark and you don't really know exactly where you are, it's better to just go out on track and see where we are instead of just talking it up."

Verstappen insists a shortened season, with the F1 calendar to feature around 15 to 18 races once the second half of the campaign has been finalised, will have no impact on how he goes racing.

"For me, it doesn't [change his approach] because even if it's 22 races, or eight, or 15, you never want the DNF. You always want the best result possible without a crazy amount of risk," added Verstappen.

"Of course, if you make a mistake it's more costly, but that's how it is, yet the approach is pretty similar. You always want a good result, you don't want to retire.

"Every race you want to do well. If it's eight, it's eight. If it's more, it's more, but every race you approach it the same. I don't understand why the approach would be any different. You always want to bring back the best result possible."

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