Alongs🌊ide Horner’s own team, Aston Martin have received plenty of plaudits from drivers and pundits for how their car has performed during the three days of running at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Many are expecting Aston Martin to head the midfield at the start of the year, particularly with McLaren sဣeemingly struggling.

Alpine’s true performance remains unknown, although both 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Esteban Ocon and168澳洲5最新开奖结果: Pierre Gasly have reiterated their own confidence.

Since Lawrence Stroll rebranded the Silverstone-based team as Aston Martin, they’ve had back-to-back P7 finishes in the c﷽onstructors’ champiꦬonship.

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However, Horner believes “they’ve made a big step” for F1 2023.

“I think they’ve made a big step,” he told Sky Sports. "It looks like their c𒅌oncept of car is moving forward and they look like they’re not t♕oo far away. Fernando in particular looks very competitive.”

Horner remained coy🐠 on who Red Bull’s main rivals are going ▨into the new season.

“It’s ve🎀ry difficult to say [what the pecking order is],” Horner added.

“Ferrari look like they’re quick, Mercedes form is difficult to read at the moment, are they holding something bꦰack? We’ll see this time next week.”

All signs are pointing towards a third consecutive world title for 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen, who looked mighty throughout testing.

“I think he’s [Verstappen] been in a great place for the last few years now,” he said. “He’s at a stage in his career now, hi🌳s confidence is very high.

“He’s got that experience, he just gets in and turns it on. You saw that from the very first 💖lap from the first day of testing. 

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“He’s worked through the programme, he’s felt he’s got to know that car as he wanted to. So he’s in good shape, physically he’s in𝕴 great shape and excited to start the season.”