Max Verstappen hopes for a more "consistent" race in Australia, after suffering from a driveshaft failure in Jeddah which compromised this rest of his weekend. After the failure in qualifying the team elected to change both the driveshaft and his gearbox before the race. The Dutchman worked his way up to second through the field, but still encountered problems towards the end while chasing Sergio Perez. The team initially told both drivers to manage their pace and to not focus on setting the fastest lap, but Verstappen managed to set it on the final lap of the race - thwarting Perez's chances of taking the championship lead. The Dutchman says he wants a more "straightforward" race weekend, after the problems they faced in both Jeddah and Bahrain a few weeks prior. "We just need it to be straightforward and consistent," said Verstappen. "Although from a racing point of view, it [Melbourne] is not one that has been too kind to us over the years."
Red Bull winless in Melbourne since 2011
Red Bull has not won a race in Melbourne since 2011 with Sebastian Vettel, with the team suffering a mechanical failure last year for Verstappen while running in second. Verstappen last stood on the podium in 2019, when he finished 20 seconds off eventual winner Valtteri Bottas. The circuit introduced a new layout in 2022, which increased the number of on-track passes to 34 compared to 12 in 2019. He added: "The track is great with some high-speed corners, and one I enjoy driving so hopefully we can have a good race this weekend."
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