Max Verstappen believes Red Bull has made a major step forward with its 2026 car, making it more predictable and easier to drive, but the four-time Formula 1 world champion is refusing to assume that the team’s recent form will automatically continue at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Red Bull’s progress has helped Verstappen put together an impressive run of results. He has won the last three races and taken the last three pole positions, while also finishing on the podium in seven of the previous eight Grands Prix. Without his mistake at Zandvoort, that sequence might have been eight podiums from eight.
Max Verstappen says Red Bull has taken an important step
The recent turnaround has come as Red Bull has gradually unlocked more performance from the car and given Verstappen the confidence he had been seeking behind the wheel.
“Our car has made a really important step forward,” Max Verstappen said after claiming his 73rd Formula 1 victory. “In the end, it became more driveable and predictable. That’s what I wanted from the car in order to find that final step needed to fight at the front.”
The improvement in predictability appears to have been particularly important. Rather than simply adding outright speed, Red Bull has made the car easier for Verstappen to understand and exploit across different phases of a Grand Prix weekend.
Verstappen refuses to predict Red Bull’s Austin performance
Despite the recent winning streak, Verstappen is unwilling to make firm predictions about how competitive Red Bull will be at the Circuit of the Americas.
“The last few races have been really positive for us. It’s nice to see that and there is a lot of motivation in the team to try to achieve even more results,” Max Verstappen explained.
“However, it’s very difficult to say whether I’ll be in the fight in Austin as well, and I don’t want to make any predictions about that. When we get there, we’ll see how it goes and understand where we are.”
The caution reflects the uncertainty surrounding how Red Bull’s recent gains will translate to another circuit with different characteristics. Recent performances have been highly encouraging, but Verstappen wants to judge the situation only once the car is on track in Austin.
Red Bull resurgence lifts Verstappen back up the standings
Red Bull’s improvement has also allowed Verstappen to climb back up the Drivers’ Championship. He has moved from sixth place at the summer break to fourth, and now sits only 17 points behind George Russell.
Over the last 11 race weekends, Verstappen has also produced a points return consistent with a title contender. During that period, he has scored only six points fewer than Kimi Antonelli, underlining how dramatically Red Bull’s competitiveness has improved compared with the earlier part of the season.
The recent run has therefore changed the complexion of Verstappen’s campaign. Three consecutive victories and three consecutive pole positions have restored Red Bull to the front of the field, but Austin will provide another important test of whether that progress can be sustained across a wider range of circuits.
Leave a Reply