Max Verstappen may be out of contention for the 2026 Formula 1 world title, but the Red Bull driver is once again producing the kind of late-season recovery that has become increasingly familiar. Since Barcelona, the Dutchman has scored 145 points, putting him third among all drivers over that period and only 19 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
The numbers underline how dramatically Max Verstappen’s season has changed after a difficult opening phase. His victory in Malaysia was his first of 2026, but the positive trend had already been building for several races.
Max Verstappen produces another strong Formula 1 recovery
In 2025, Max Verstappen gave Formula 1 fans a memorable end to the season, coming within just two points of completing what would have been a historic comeback against McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Had he succeeded, it would have delivered a fifth consecutive World Championship.
A comeback of that scale is not possible for the Hasselt-born star this year, but the reigning champion has once again started producing consistently strong results after a difficult first part of the campaign.
Max Verstappen’s form changed dramatically after Monaco
Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2026 season in Malaysia, but his improved run had already been underway for some time. The Sepang result represented his fourth consecutive podium, his sixth podium in the last seven races and his seventh in the last nine.
Since the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has stood on the podium as many times as World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Across the last 10 races, following his retirement in Monaco, Max Verstappen ranks third for total points scored. At Monaco, he had been forced to stop after only a few metres when a power unit problem struck at the start.
2026 F1 points scored since the Barcelona Grand Prix
| Position | Driver | Points since Barcelona GP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | 164 |
| 2 | George Russell | 148 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | 145 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | 130 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | 124 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | 116 |
Only the two Mercedes drivers have outscored Max Verstappen since Barcelona, and the margins are small. George Russell has collected just three more points than the Red Bull driver over that period, while Kimi Antonelli has scored 19 more.
That means almost the entire championship advantage the two Mercedes drivers hold over Max Verstappen was built during the opening six Grands Prix, when the Silver Arrows enjoyed a clear technical advantage over their rivals.
Verstappen can still target second or third in the championship
With seven rounds remaining in the 2026 season, Max Verstappen can continue chasing individual victories while potentially setting his sights on third or even second place in the Drivers’ Championship.
A strong run of results to close the campaign would also provide an encouraging foundation for both Max Verstappen and Red Bull heading into the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Leave a Reply