Horner: A few things 'to tidy up' but RB18 heading in the right direction

Christian Horner says Red Bull enjoyed a productive opening day of running in Melbourne, with the team finding a good direction in which to point its RB18 for the remainder of the weekend.

In FP1, Sergio Perez trailed the leading Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc while Max Verstappen split the Scuderia's two drivers in FP2, concluding his session 0.245s behind Leclerc.

The Dutchman looked a bit disorderly out on the track at times which was likely the result of Red Bull running through various settings as it sought to put its car into its optimal operating window.

"We've made progressive changes that got the car closer and closer to the window and the race run at the end looked pretty decent as well," Horner told Sky Sports F1 after FP2.

"So, a bit of work to do tonight, a few things to tidy up, but I think we've got a good direction and the car is starting to respond nicely to those changes."

The numerous changes undertaken around Albert Park's 5.27km layout coupled with F1's new-spec cars and tyres practically equated to starting from scratch for teams and drivers in terms of defining a baseline set-up.

"It's a new surface or different surface to previously, I think the demands of the surface are a little different to what they were a few years ago with this new layout," he explained.

"[That has] definitely changed some of the energies, these new tyres react in different ways.

"So I think, you know, we hit the ground slightly out the window. Now we've come into that window, and the car is starting to respond much more.

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Verstappen was not unduly worried by Red Bull being outpaced by Ferrari at the outset, insisting that the team's work was heading in the right direction.

"We are still a tiny bit off Ferrari, but I think this weekend we can maybe make it a little bit closer," commented the reigning world champion.

"In the long run I think everything worked well, so I am happy about that, and we’ve made some good improvements today.

"We are heading in a good direction and we’ll try to build from there tomorrow."

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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.