Max Verstappen has emerged as Formula 1’s highest-scoring driver over the last five Grands Prix, collecting an extraordinary 116 points from a possible 133 as Red Bull’s resurgence continues. The four-time world champion reinforced his remarkable late-season form with a spectacular recovery drive at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, climbing through the field to finish second at Interlagos.
The result underlined two important developments: Red Bull’s increasingly competitive performance and Max Verstappen’s strengthening grip on second place in the 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings. However, an even more revealing comparison suggests that the championship battle could have looked considerably different had the season begun later in the year.
Max Verstappen’s remarkable F1 statistics reveal Red Bull’s resurgence
The numbers provide compelling evidence of Max Verstappen’s return to form. Across the last five races, the Dutch driver has accumulated 116 of the 133 points available, outperforming every other competitor during that period.
His extraordinary comeback at Interlagos, culminating in second place, provided another demonstration of his competitiveness. The recovery also highlighted the progress made by Red Bull, with the team once again capable of delivering results at the front of the field.
Max Verstappen’s Brazilian Grand Prix performance was particularly impressive given the positions he had to recover. His charge through the field also drew attention to the contrasting fortunes of his former championship rival Lewis Hamilton, whose own impressive opening lap earned praise from the Dutchman. The two drivers’ remarkable recovery drives at Interlagos became one of the notable stories of the weekend.
Max Verstappen leads Kimi Antonelli in points since the Spanish Grand Prix
An even more striking statistic emerges when comparing the points scored by the top six drivers in the championship between the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and the Brazilian Grand Prix.
If the 2026 Formula 1 championship standings were calculated exclusively over that period, Andrea Kimi Antonelli would not be leading the table. Instead, Max Verstappen would hold a narrow advantage over the Mercedes world champion, having accumulated 236 points compared with the Italian’s 234.
The remaining drivers would be considerably further behind. Lando Norris would occupy third place with 188 points, while Charles Leclerc and George Russell would be tied on 174. Lewis Hamilton would complete the top six with 171 points.
The comparison illustrates just how competitive Max Verstappen has been since the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 world championship triumph, the Red Bull driver has narrowly outscored the Mercedes star during this extended portion of the season.
Red Bull’s comeback raises expectations for the 2027 F1 season
With the 2026 championship already decided, these statistics cannot change the outcome of the title race. Nevertheless, they highlight two important conclusions about the competitive order and the prospects for next season.
First, the points comparison suggests that the championship would have been considerably closer if the performances seen from Barcelona onwards had defined the entire campaign. Second, Red Bull’s improvement and Max Verstappen’s consistency demonstrate that the four-time world champion is firmly back in contention at the front of Formula 1.
As attention begins to shift towards 2027, Red Bull and Max Verstappen have provided encouraging evidence that they can once again challenge their strongest rivals. The Dutchman’s recent points haul and his narrow advantage over Andrea Kimi Antonelli across the selected races suggest that the battle at the front could be much more closely contested next year.
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