Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen has indicated Red Bull's car will not be able to generate any additional speed during the upcoming F1 season.
Red Bull has failed to win one of the opening two races of the championship for the first time since 2022 as rivals McLaren has commenced the year at the head of the pecking order.
F1 is currently in its final year of the technical regulation cycle with development gains increasingly more difficult to find.
Verstappen entered the new season as the reigning champion but currently trails Lando Norris in the standings.
The Briton has scored a victory and a second place to open his campaign, placing him as many people's favourite in the current title fight.
As Verstappen looks to mount another championship hunt, Vermeulen stated he will need to make the difference.
"The car is at the development ceiling, so Max will have to make the difference himself," Vermeulen told Formula 1 Magazine. "It will be an exciting season.”
Verstappen has enjoyed somewhat comfortable routes to the F1 titles across the last three years - but Vermeulen is confident Verstappen will enjoy another closely fought contest.
“Look, Max will say that he prefers to win races with a 10 or 20-second lead, as has often happened in the past,” he said.
“But I think he will enjoy this season tremendously as a racer, even if he won't say that out loud.”
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