<p>Max Verstappen said on Saturday he was "very positively surprised" to test his new Honda-powered Red Bull ahead of the season-opening Formula 1 race in Melbourne later this month.</p>.<p>"We had two very positive weeks of testing" in Barcelona, said the Dutchman, tipped to be one of the challengers to dethrone world champion Lewis Hamilton this year.</p>.<p>He attended pre-season events at the Honda headquarters in Tokyo with young Frenchman Pierre Gasly, who will be partnered by Verstappen after Australian Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull to join Renault.</p>.<p>Verstappen said he was "very positively surprised" when he tested the machine equipped with the Honda engine during the first pre-season test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.</p>.<p>Red Bull will be powered by the Japanese manufacturer this year after ending their fractious relationship with Renault.</p>.<p>"We did not really have to change a lot around it to make it really drivable and nice," the 21-year-old said.</p>.<p>Verstappen, who finished fourth in the drivers' standings last year, also said the car was reliable and communications with Honda engineers went smoothly during the test.</p>.<p>"I'm just looking forward to starting driving and see how we can be successful together with Red Bull and Honda," he added.</p>.<p>The season-opening Australian Grand Prix will be held on March 17.</p>
<p>Max Verstappen said on Saturday he was "very positively surprised" to test his new Honda-powered Red Bull ahead of the season-opening Formula 1 race in Melbourne later this month.</p>.<p>"We had two very positive weeks of testing" in Barcelona, said the Dutchman, tipped to be one of the challengers to dethrone world champion Lewis Hamilton this year.</p>.<p>He attended pre-season events at the Honda headquarters in Tokyo with young Frenchman Pierre Gasly, who will be partnered by Verstappen after Australian Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull to join Renault.</p>.<p>Verstappen said he was "very positively surprised" when he tested the machine equipped with the Honda engine during the first pre-season test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.</p>.<p>Red Bull will be powered by the Japanese manufacturer this year after ending their fractious relationship with Renault.</p>.<p>"We did not really have to change a lot around it to make it really drivable and nice," the 21-year-old said.</p>.<p>Verstappen, who finished fourth in the drivers' standings last year, also said the car was reliable and communications with Honda engineers went smoothly during the test.</p>.<p>"I'm just looking forward to starting driving and see how we can be successful together with Red Bull and Honda," he added.</p>.<p>The season-opening Australian Grand Prix will be held on March 17.</p>