Max Verstappen on the pivotal role Australian Grand Prix had in his career
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen says the Australian Grand Prix will always be a special place for him as the site of his Formula 1 debut.
MELBOURNE–Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen says that Australian Grand Prix remains "a special place" as the site of his first F1 race and start of his monumental career.
"A lot of good, fun memories and Australia is just a great country to visit," the Dutch driver said from the Red Bull Fan Zone on the bank of the Yarra River at the Crown Riverwalk.
“What I really enjoy are the people. They are very friendly, very open, very relaxed as well, which I think suits my style quite well, and the track is very fast," he said, touching on the racing action for the weekend ahead.
“I’m excited to get started. We’ve done the testing, there’s always a lot of work going into the preparation before the season, so now it’s good to finally get started, see where we’re at and then just work from there.”
Verstappen may have easily sealed the 2024 drivers' title, but the team is set for another tight battle in 2025 after narrowly losing the constructors' championship to McLaren.
Times from testing, although speculative, seem to indicate Red Bull is level with Ferrari for second-fastest on race pace.
All will be revealed when the drivers hit the track in anger 13-16 March for the season-opening Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
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