Red Bull pace "doesn't mean we are happy" - Verstappen

Max Verstappen and Red Bull may have finished pre-season testing quickest but the Dutch driver claims such a turn of pace does not mean the team is happy.

Whilst the W12 of seven-time consecutive champions Mercedes struggled with both reliability and a lively rear end, and it appeared to lack speed, Red Bull coasted through the three days of testing in Bahrain with no major issues.

On the final evening session of the test, Verstappen set the fastest time overall with a lap of one minute 28.960secs, just over a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton's best from the same session.

Although relatively content, Verstappen knows more can be achieved. He said: “It’s a bit too early to say but I have positive feelings about the car.

"We will find out in two weeks at the first race weekend where we are. That is where we can judge our performance but from the test, it has been a good few days.

“That doesn’t mean that we are happy. We always want to improve and try to be better.”

Hamilton, who enters 2021 hunting a record eighth drivers' title said of Red Bull "they can be favourites if they want" but Verstappen refuted such a remark.

"Well, I don't think we are the favourites if Mercedes wins that many championships in a row," added Verstappen. "I think it's still the same since before the test. Not much to add."

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