Verstappen completes Red Bull mileage mission in Spain

Max Verstappen has revealed Red Bull's main focus was on racking up mileage on its RB18 and not outright pace in Spain after finishing ninth fastest on day one of pre-season testing.

The F1 season officially got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and although reigning champion Verstappen was unable to set the timesheets alight, the Dutchman posted 147 laps, a distance greater than that of two Spanish Grands Prix.

Asked what his priorities had been for the day, Verstappen said: "Just laps, getting used to the car and getting a general understanding of how the car is behaving.

"Everything was working quite well today and it is a good start. I will look into what we can do tomorrow.

"Of course, Checo is driving tomorrow but it's just about doing a lot of laps and getting a bit of mileage on all the parts to see if everything is holding up."

When leaving the garage on Wednesday morning, Verstappen formally revealed the true RB18 to the world after the team used a show car at its launch earlier this month.

Verstappen joked of the RB18: "It's completely different.

"I think it looks good but at the end of the day what is most important is that it's fast. So that's what we are trying to see."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Donald Trump sparked bid for New Jersey F1 race

• 1 hour ago

F1 champion hits back at Lewis Hamilton age attacks

• 3 hours ago

Toto Wolff keeps his cool after Mercedes F1 upset: 'AI could have told you that'

• Today 09:44

Fernando Alonso 'ripped door off its hinges' and 'broke crash helmet' in F1 rage over slow pace

• Today 08:58

FIA hits out at F1 manufacturers over 2026 rules after bombshell Lewis Hamilton comment

• Today 08:15

F1 News Today: Verstappen to Aston Martin, Mercedes cost cap fears and Sky F1's uncertain future

• Today 07:15