Red Bull pushing to run short F1 nose in Melbourne

Red Bull is still pushing to introduce a new bodywork package including a short nose for its 2015 car.

Rumours in the Melbourne paddock suggested the team's bid to draw closer to dominant Mercedes this weekend had not succeeded because the new nose failed the crash test.

But Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Sport Bild: "How can we not pass the crash test when we will only do the crash test on Friday?"

Even if the new package can be added to the RB11 in Melbourne, many believe Mercedes will be unbeatable early this season.

"Mercedes can only beat themselves this year," Gerhard Berger is quoted in the Austrian press.

"As long as the cars do not fail as often as they did in 2014, and the drivers don't get in each other's way, they are the absolute favourites for the title."

Another former F1 driver, Jos Verstappen, also thinks Red Bull is not ready to challenge.

"In terms of speed the Renault engine is considerably behind Mercedes," Max Verstappen's father told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

"But maybe they (Red Bull) can surprise me in a positive way," he conceded.

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