Max Verstappen disagrees with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff over Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen reacts to Honda's departure from Formula 1

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is concerned that Red Bull may be serious contenders for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships this season. However, Max Verstappen insists that Lewis Hamilton should still be the out-right favourites.

Verstappen has been knocking on Hamilton’s door for the last couple of seasons.

However, the Dutchman has never finished within 100 points of his British rival.

Mercedes are expected to extend their seven -year dominance with another double world title win this time out.

And Verstappen talked down Red Bull’s chances of stopping Hamilton from winning his eighth World Championship.

“Mercedes will start as favourite, they almost have to,” Verstappen said.

“They still had the most dominant car at the end of last season and also gave up on further development much earlier.”

Verstappen has a new Red Bull team-mate in the shape Sergio Perez, who finished fourth in the standings with Racing Point last term.

“That is a very strong combination,” Wolff told Speedweek.

“Red Bull Racing actually had the fastest car at the end of last year, so the team is in the favourites’ circle in 2021, especially in the Constructors’ Championship, with drivers of this calibre.

“I see Red Bull Racing as a double challenge, so in both World Championship categories – drivers and teams.”

Verstappen got to test out his RB16B car for the first time at Silverstone on Wednesday.

But the 23-year-old explained why the outing should not be a benchmark for when pre-season testing commences in Bahrain next month.

“We drive on demo tyres so it will never feel how it’s going to feel on real tyres, so I never really base a lot of my findings on this,” he said.

“It’s more just to get the car out and run a few laps. It all felt normal.

“We just have to wait and see what happens in Bahrain once we have proper tyres under the car.”

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