Raging favourites Red Bull say it's folly to label the Formula One season a glorified motorcade for their red-hot team.
After banking one-two finishes in the opening two races, Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are eyeing a similar feat at the Australian grand prix.
Reigning world champion Verstappen clocked the fastest lap time in Friday's practice sessions in Melbourne to confirm his favouritism at Albert Park.
But ahead of another practice session, followed by qualifying, on Saturday, Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner is sounding a warning.
"We have got a great car," he said.
"It's a fantastic starting point to the season for us and to achieve two one-two finishes in the first two races is more than we could have ever expected.
"But we're conscious that it's a very long season, there's still 21 races to go.
"And we're conscious that big updates are coming from others in coming weeks as we head back to Europe.
"So there is still a lot to do and an awfully long way to go. ... I have always said it's going to take three or four races to get a real pattern as to what is the actual form-book for the season."
Melbourne-born Oscar Piastri also has some way to go before his McLaren can compete with the elite.
Piastri, making his home-town debut, was 12th fastest of the 20 drivers in Friday's opening practice and 14th quickest in a wet second session.
But the 21-year-old was thrilled to be on track at Albert Park, which is just a 10 minute drive from his family home.
"Very, very special, obviously, to be here at home," he said.
Piastri had never raced on the circuit before Friday.
"It's a nice track - the walls are a bit closer than they look on TV," he said.
Piastri said it was "hard to get a read" on Friday's results given the wet weather in the second session - more rain is expected on a Saturday when maximum temperatures are forecast to be just 16 degrees.
"Typical Melbourne," he said.
