Max Verstappen excited for special Red Bull milestone as 'real test' awaits

The Formula 1 campaign begins this week in Melbourne, Australia, where GPblog will also be on site.

After the shakedown in Barcelona and two pre-season tests in Bahrain, teams will hit the track for the first time in a Grand Prix weekend. As a result, the new in-house Red Bull Ford power unit will make its Grand Prix debut.

Looking ahead, Verstappen said: "It will be great to be back on track and start up the season, it has felt like a long build up to this point and it is exciting to finally get out racing again.

The Dutchman continued: "We’ve been driving the car in the simulator for such a long time, so when it was finally time to come back and see the car ready to go, I did get goosebumps. Now is the real test.

The Dutchman was previously critical of the new generation of cars, calling them 'Formula E on steroids'. Former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese found Verstappen's words concerning. Find out more here!