Red Bull reveal 'going to extremes' to hand Verstappen F1 title shot

Christian Horner has revealed how Red Bull went to "extremes" in pre-season testing to ensure Max Verstappen would be in with a shot of securing a record-equalling drivers' championship this season.

Red Bull was one of the surprises over the three days of testing in Bahrain in late February but for very unusual reasons as it finished bottom of the lap-chart standings, with indicators pointing to difficulties with its RB21.

Those feelings were underlined after Friday practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with Verstappen stating there was a lack of grip with the car and that the team had to work hard to find answers, particularly as there were no balance issues.

On Saturday, Red Bull and Verstappen, in particular, were back in contention, with the four-time F1 champion claiming third on the grid, albeit four-tenths of a second adrift of the front-row McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

In a chaotic race, and despite an unusual error from Verstappen to hand back second place to Piastri after the Dutchman had passed the Australian on the opening lap, he survived to claim a valuable runner-up spot behind Norris.

With Verstappen eyeing a fifth consecutive drivers' crown, a feat only Michael Schumacher has previously achieved, Horner felt was achieved in Bahrain has paid handsome dividends. 

"We did some big set-up changes in Bahrain," said Horner, speaking to media, including RacingNews365. "We purposely wanted to go to extremes to understand the set-up parameters so that you've got your toolbox knowledge when you go racing.

"I think the characteristics of this car are much calmer than the RB20, so as a platform to develop through the season. There are not the nasty snaps there were on RB20.

"That gives us a good dynamic platform for us to develop the car through the season, [and] through all the different races we're going to head to."

China a barometer for Red Bull

Horner is confident the remainder of the season offers hope after witnessing the performance of the RB21 around Albert Park, a circuit where Red Bull does not have the best of records.

Labelling the Australian GP track as "unique", Horner feels the Shanghai International Circuit will provide more of a barometer as to where the cars will stack up against one another.

"Expectations are difficult to set ahead of China," said Horner. "This track [Albert Park], historically for us, even on our strongest days, has never played to our strengths. The fact we've only won this race twice in 20 years shows it's quite a tricky circuit for us.

"So we're looking forward to going to China and learning more about the car, more about some of its limitations. The McLarens will be quick there, I've no doubt about that, but it'll be interesting to see how the balance moves around.

"But China is probably going to be the first circuit representative race circuit of quite a few of the venues coming up, although Bahrain is unusual because of the track surface, so it'll be fascinating to see how the cars perform there."