Max Verstappen continues to astonish the Formula 1 world — and even his own team, Red Bull. With a stunning victory in Austin, the Dutch driver has reignited his title fight and moved closer than ever to securing a fifth Formula 1 World Championship crown.
It has been an unexpected leap forward for both Red Bull and Max Verstappen, who once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the greatest talents in F1 history. With five races remaining in the 2025 season, nothing seems out of reach for “Super Max.” Last year, he proved that even without the best car on the grid, he could still deliver extraordinary performances. Now, only 40 points separate him from the current championship leader, Oscar Piastri — a driver who, in recent weeks, appears to have lost his rhythm.
A revitalized Red Bull changes everything
Behind this resurgence lies a Red Bull team that seems reborn. Laurent Mekies, who took over as team principal after the British Grand Prix following Christian Horner’s departure, has successfully restored the team’s competitive edge. In just six races under his leadership, Verstappen has claimed four victories — including the Sprint Race in Austin — firmly putting himself back in the title hunt.
“I won’t lie. Every one of us has said it — especially for the people working here — it’s something nobody expected,” Mekies admitted during Friday’s media session in Texas, commenting on the huge performance leap of the RB21. “A change was made. We didn’t expect it. They didn’t expect it. For them, it was really difficult to process and understand.”
Mekies praises Red Bull’s unity and work ethic
The Frenchman, who succeeded Christian Horner as team principal, has repeatedly praised Red Bull’s progress and the warm welcome he received upon joining the team. “I can only be thankful for how open and welcoming everyone has been. It’s been a very good feeling,” said Mekies. “Each passing day you get to know a few more people in the company, you start to understand the internal dynamics, and also the weak points. I’m simply grateful to everyone here for helping me during the transition.”
Red Bull’s turnaround is also the result of the tireless work from the technical department led by Pierre Wache. Mekies highlighted the crucial role of the engineering team, explaining that they “worked on this car without accepting the project’s limitations.” According to the team principal, the engineers at Milton Keynes have been “finding solutions and refusing to give up, balancing the development for both 2025 and 2026.”
He added that the strength of the group has been vital to the team’s recovery: “It’s a large and highly motivated team, guided by Pierre, who has managed to turn the situation around after weeks and months of relentless effort.”
With the RB21 now back in top form and Verstappen delivering near-perfect weekends, Red Bull once again looks like a formidable force. And for McLaren, who had been leading the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships for much of the season, Verstappen’s comeback is now a genuine threat. The championship battle is far from over — and the Dutchman is once again proving that in Formula 1, you can never rule out Max Verstappen.
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