Verstappen waiting until China to assess Red Bull strength

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Max Verstappen says he'll need a couple more races before getting a clear picture of the true potential of the Red Bull/Honda combination.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit and its engine supplier were singled out in Australia for their good performance, with Verstappen finishing the opening round of the 2019 campaign in third place behind the Mercedes duo of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton.

Indeed, even Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff admitted that based on Red Bull's performance down under, the team would be a force to be reckoned with for the championship this season.

Red Bull and Honda have Toto Wolff's full attention!

Verstappen heads to Bahrain with the hope of confirming his outfit's opening salvo but with the Sakhir circuit offering a very different set of challenges compared to Melbourne, the Dutch driver is keeping an open mind about his prospects.

"I enjoy the track and the transition from day to night is a challenge in terms of car balance, so that always makes it an interesting weekend," said Max in Red Bull's Bahrain Grand Prix preview.

"You never really know where you stand when you start qualifying because you haven’t had the optimal preparation as the track conditions aren't the same during practice.

"The middle sector, which is quite technical, is the best part of the Bahrain circuit and I hope it’s good for racing again this year."

Verstappen was buoyed by his productive weekend in Australia, but for now he'll be taking it one race at a time;

"Starting the season with a podium in Australia is really positive but Melbourne is not a typical circuit, so we can’t get carried away, and I don’t think we will really know where we stand until after China."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.