Max Verstappen does first laps in the new racing car - can he be dangerous to Lewis Hamilton?

Will Max Verstappen become World Champion Lewis Hamilton's biggest competitor? He did his first laps in the new racing car.

• The first race of the new Formula 1 season is scheduled for March 15.
• Max Verstappen was now doing the first laps in his car.
• Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs until 2023.

Silverstone - After Sebastian Vettel, world championship challenger Max Verstappen also presented his new Formula 1 company car. The 22-year-old Dutchman did the first laps in Red Bull RB16 on Wednesday in Silverstone, UK . In the new season, Verstappen drives alongside the Thai Alexander Albon and is considered one of the strongest rivals of defending champion Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari team around the Hessen Vettel had already presented its new car, the SF1000, on Tuesday.

Max Verstappen is considered Lewis Hamilton's biggest competitor

The Formula 1 test drives for the new season will begin in Barcelona next Wednesday. The first race will take place in Melbourne on March 15th. Verstappen had won three races last year and finished third behind Hamilton and his Mercedes colleague Valtteri Bottas. At the beginning of the year Verstappen had extended his contract with Red Bull until the end of 2023.

The @redbullracing RB16 is here! # F1https: //t.co/Evd5093XVf

His new racing car is particularly noticeable with a very different front section. Even more technical changes are possible before the start of the season.

Even without a finished car, Renault's competition opened its season on Wednesday. The pilots Daniel Ricciardo and newcomer Esteban Ocon, who replaced the German Nico Hülkenberg, initially only showed the new livery at the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The finished car will only be seen during the tests.

The Formula 1 race in China was canceled due to the corona virus. This has a dramatic impact on the racing calendar.

dpa