Max Verstappen points to Mercedes as being Red Bull Racing's main rival this season, provided the Brackley squad fields an improved car.
From the outset last year, Mercedes' new-generation W13 was plagued with aerodynamic issues – mainly chronic porpoising – that weighed heavily on the performance of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
However, the team's relentless efforts eventually led to progress in the back half of the season, with Russell clinching a dominant win in the penultimate round of the 2022 championship in Brazil.
While Ferrari and Charles Leclerc were Red Bull and Verstappen's undisputable main rivals in the first half of the season, the Dutchman see Mercedes taking over the Scuderia's challenger role, if its W14 silver arrow proves to be worth its salt.
"I think even at the end of the year it looked like sometimes they [Mercedes] had it together, and sometimes not," commented Verstappen who will be gunning for his third consecutive world title this season.
"So, from my side, it’s difficult to say because I’m not part of the team, but I guess we’ll find out this year.
"If they fully understand everything they wanted to improve on the car, of course, they will be our main rival."
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Verstappen isn't dismissing another forceful challenge from Ferrari. But given Mercedes' operational strength, the Dutchman says the German outfit remains a force to reckoned with.
However, the 25-year-old hopes both teams will fall short in their attempt to knock Red Bull off its thrown.
"I think Ferrari will be strong – but how strong is difficult to say," he added. "But Mercedes have shown of course over the last few years that they’ve been really, really, really strong, but they have a good group of people as well.
"But I trust in my people at Milton Keynes that they can build a very strong car together with an engine as well. I hope that we again have a strong package against them."
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Verstappen says Red Bull's crews are focused on hitting the ground running in Bahrain next month. As for his title prospects, the 35-time Grand Prix winner suggests there will be a time and place to think about a third coronation.
"We work hard as a team to try and make sure that we have a chance to fight for it again but only time will tell, right?" he said.
"I’m not even thinking about these things at the moment – because it’s more important to focus on just having a competitive car, and if we have a competitive car these things can happen.
"But it’s more important to make sure the car is running well, has no issues, and is quick at the end of the day."
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