High expectations for Red Bull: 'They know they have a good car'

Everyone knows that the teams don't show everything yet during the test days. Nevertheless, former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger is impressed with Red Bull Racing, but Mercedes also looks spectacular according to the Austrian.

This coming weekend we will find out where the teams actually stand during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Nevertheless, Helmut Marko already sounded enthusiastic about Red Bull's updates after the test days in Bahrain and the team would now be on par with Ferrari.

Berger expects a lot from Red Bull. To defend Max Verstappen's world title, the RB18 will have to perform well with the new regulations, but the teams are expected to be much closer. "I have high hopes when it comes to Red Bull Racing, because I see that Helmut Marko walks around with a smile on his face all the time," Berger tells Servus TV.

"I think they already know at Red Bull Racing that the car is nice to drive. I think Red Bull will drive at the front," the former F1 driver continues. The team drove many miles during the test days and had few problems.

Mercedes appeared on the track during the second week of testing in Bahrain with very distinctive sidepods. "That's an extreme approach from Mercedes. We will have to see if it works, especially in hot temperatures, but it looks very spectacular."