Max Verstappen has made it clear that finishing second, third or fifth in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship makes little difference to him, insisting that only winning the title truly matters. With his championship hopes now over, the four-time world champion has shifted his attention towards helping Red Bull secure third place in the Constructors’ Championship, while continuing to improve the car ahead of 2027.
The Dutch driver arrives at the Mexico City Grand Prix following an encouraging recovery for Red Bull, with two victories in Malaysia and Singapore followed by a podium finish at the United States Grand Prix. Despite the progress made through recent upgrades, Max Verstappen can no longer realistically challenge championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the world title, leaving the team’s Constructors’ Championship position as his main remaining objective.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull recover after recent F1 upgrades
Red Bull has enjoyed a significant improvement in competitiveness during the latter stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Max Verstappen’s victories in Malaysia and Singapore, combined with his third-place finish in Austin, have demonstrated that the team is once again capable of fighting near the front of the field.
The recovery has been supported by a series of development packages introduced during recent Grands Prix, which have helped Red Bull return to contention for race victories. However, the improvement has not been sufficient to bring Max Verstappen back into the battle for the world championship against Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The United States Grand Prix provided another indication of Red Bull’s progress, although the Dutchman was unable to challenge for victory. Max Verstappen finished third behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc, with engine-related concerns also emerging after his Austin podium.
Max Verstappen could still finish second in 2026 F1 standings
Although the championship title is beyond his reach, Max Verstappen still has an opportunity to improve his final position in the Drivers’ Championship. The Red Bull driver is currently six points behind George Russell, who occupies second place, and five points behind Lewis Hamilton in third.
Those relatively small margins mean Max Verstappen could still climb to second in the standings before the season concludes. The battle remains open, with several drivers separated by only a handful of points in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings.
Red Bull also has an important opportunity in the Constructors’ Championship. The team currently occupies third place, level on points with reigning champion McLaren, creating a direct battle between the two teams over the remaining races.
That situation follows a difficult period for McLaren, whose recent results have allowed Red Bull to erase its previous deficit. The two teams are now tied following McLaren’s run of just 49 points across four races, making their fight for third place particularly significant.
Max Verstappen explains why second or fifth place makes no difference
Despite the possibility of finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen has little interest in pursuing that position as a personal achievement. Speaking to Formula 1’s official channels, the four-time world champion explained that he does not attach much importance to where he finishes unless he is competing for first place.
“I don’t really care that much, because only first place matters. As far as I’m concerned, it makes no difference whether I finish second or fifth. The only objective we want to achieve is third place in the Constructors’ Championship. I think that’s what the team wants, so that’s what we’ll try to do.”
The Dutchman’s position reflects his focus on winning rather than simply improving his final championship ranking. Although finishing ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton remains mathematically possible, Max Verstappen considers Red Bull’s position in the team standings the more important target for the remainder of the season.
Red Bull plans further changes for 2027 despite recent progress
Max Verstappen also acknowledged that Red Bull still has considerable work to do with its car, despite the substantial improvements achieved during the current championship. The Dutchman wants the team to continue addressing weaknesses in its overall balance, with further developments planned for next season.
“There are still many things we want to change, and I hope that will make the car more balanced. It’s a target we’ve had for a very long time. Of course, we’ve made big steps forward this year, but we’re not satisfied at all; that’s why there will still be quite a few changes next year.”
The comments underline that Red Bull does not consider its recent victories sufficient evidence that all of its problems have been resolved. While the development packages introduced over the last few races have delivered meaningful progress, Max Verstappen believes further improvements are necessary to achieve the level of performance and consistency the team is seeking.
The Mexico City Grand Prix will provide another opportunity to assess Red Bull’s competitiveness, with the circuit presenting particular challenges in terms of aerodynamic performance and tyre management. These factors are also central to the competitive outlook for Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren in Mexico.
For Max Verstappen, the priorities are therefore clear. His personal championship position is secondary to helping Red Bull finish third in the Constructors’ Championship and ensuring that the team continues making the changes required to become more competitive in 2027.
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