Max V🦹erstappen expects Mercedes will overhaul McLaren as Red Bull’s closest rival at this weekend’s Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Dutchman continued where he left offꦚඣ in pre-season testing, topping both practice sessions.

Verstappen was a 𝐆tenth clear of Lando Norris during second practice, with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton a further tenth back in third.

Even though 🃏McLaren was Red Bull’s nearest challenger during Friday practice, Verstappen still sees Mercedes as the main threat.

“I don’t think it is so,” Verstappen said when asked if McLaren is Red Bull’s closest rival in Bahrain. “I stil🔥l expect Mercedes to be the strongest Mercedes-powered car.”

Reflecting on the day as a whole, Verstappen added: “Yeah it’s been a good day again. of course, with the heat, not easy to find a really good balance around the﷽ whole lap♏. I think it’s a positive day.

“Of course t𒐪here are still things to look into what we can look better for tomorrow, but again, also tomorrow, I think it’s going to be even more windy so that will be ✱even more difficult to drive. That’s the same for everyone, so we’ll see what happens.”

Se♛rgio Perez’s first competitive outing in Red Bull colours at a grand prix weekend ended with him classifyin♍g tenth overall, 0.6s shy of his teammate.

Perez was happy with his performance on the long🐟er runs but admits he has work to do ahead of qualifying on Saturday.

“It feels great to finally get into a race weekend and I’m pleased so far with how things are going. I’m settling i𒈔n well and taking some steps forwards,” Perez said.

“If I were to summarize today, I’ve got some work to do on the short runs as over♉ one lap I don’t quite feel the car is within me just yet and I still have to think about what the car is doin꧙g, but in the long runs I’m more comfortable and I think the pace is there so that’s positive.

“I think we have some work to do on the soft tyre as there is also room for improvement there, but the carꦿ is performing well, we have good pace and tomorrow it will be pretty close in qualifying so we need to make sure we get it right and have a good start to the season.”