Max Verstappen expects tougher Ferrari and Mercedes fight in F1 title defence

Reigning champion says Red Bull still striving to improve while Horner believes drivers must be allowed to express themselves

LOOK WHO'S BEHIND YOU: Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen participates in an Oracle Red Bull Racing event in New York, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.PIC CREDIT: AP Photo/Seth Wenig.

Max Verstappen is optimistic he is in a strong position to defend his Formula One world title this season but he and his Red Bull team expect a much stronger challenge from Mercedes and Ferrari.

The Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, has also emphasised that the drivers’ right to express themselves must be maintained after the FIA announced it is to ban political statements, with Horner saying: “We don’t want a load of robots without opinions going racing.”