Perez: 'Max is driving at super-high level'

Max Verstappen. Pic/Getty Images

Max Verstappen will be heavy favourite to make it three wins from three this season as his Red Bull team attempt to put weeks of paddock intrigue behind them at the Australian Grand Prix. The Dutch three-time world champion emphatically led home teammate Sergio Perez in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but the celebrations were overshadowed by team disunity and allegations against Christian Horner.

Horner crisis continues

The long-serving Red Bull boss was cleared of inappropriate conduct involving a woman colleague ahead of the season-opener in Sakhir and tried to put a lid on the drama in Jeddah. But the unnamed woman has appealed to Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the all-conquering Formula One team. She has also reportedly lodged an official complaint to Formula One's governing body the FIA, ensuring the saga will rumble on in Melbourne this weekend.

Sergio Perez

With Verstappen already 15 points clear of Perez and 23 ahead of Leclerc, the Ferrari No. 1 is desperate to break the stranglehold in Australia and close the gap before it widens too far. Perez, in the other Red Bull, is the only driver to get close to Verstappen this year. The Mexican is determined to keep pressing hard as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc snaps at his heels. "Max is driving at a super-high level and I think he is the only driver who has maximised qualifying and the race so far this season," said Perez.

Sainz set to be back

Meanwhile, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz is set to be back in the cockpit after recovering from surgery for appendicitis, the team said Wednesday.

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