Max Verstappen Exudes Confidence Ahead of Formula 1 Season Opener at Bahrain Grand Prix

• Max Verstappen's Red Bull had a satisfactory pre-season testing in Bahrain
• The new Formula 1 season gets underway next weekend, with a total of 23 races scheduled this year
• Verstappen is seeking to defend his title again against a wounded Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

Formula 1 defending champion Max Verstappen was beaming with confidence after testing at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain.

Drivers converged in Bahrain to put their new car models to test ahead of the first leg in the same circuit next weekend.

The testing was without drama, with Red Bull having a good outing leaving Verstappen psyched ahead of the new campaign.

Driving the new RB14, the Dutch driver expressed his satisfaction with the new model.

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"It has been very good. The car is working really well. Just going through a lot of things we wanted to try. Just in general, enjoying driving the car. Our goal is to win - and win the championship - only." as quoted by BBC Sports.

Ferrari and Mercedes

Verstappen spoke to the media on Saturday, where his main rival last season, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, remained optimistic about a brilliant 2023 season.

Leclerc looked like a threat in 2022 only for poor decisions to cost the team. Maria Binotto left his role as team principal, with Frederic Vasseur taking his place.

Record champion Lewis Hamilton had a difficult Friday by his own admission, but things improved for Mercedes on the final day. Team boss Toto Wolff has indicated that the W14 model is still a work in progress and the Brackley-based outfit will be keen to get their things right after a disappointing 2022 season.

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2023 season in a nutshell

Sports Brief had earlier reported that now that every team has unveiled the car they will use for the upcoming season, the 2023 Formula 1 season is ready to get underway.

From Mercedes' W14 car to Red Bull's RB14, the 2023 season is promising to be an exciting prospect with a lot of storylines to look out for.

Will Lewis Hamilton win a record eighth title, or will Max Verstappen become only the fourth driver after Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher to win three consecutive titles?