Red Bull closes in on McLaren: how Max Verstappen is shaking up the F1 championship. After a strong start to the season, McLaren’s lead is shrinking as Red Bull narrows the gap.

F1: McLaren losing ground? No, Red Bull catches up and shows its threat

For days, social media has circulated a bold idea: McLaren might be deliberately slowing down, as it seems impossible that the season’s dominant team could lose so much ground in such a short time. In reality, much more concrete explanations are emerging from the Singapore paddock. After Max Verstappen’s two victories in Monza and Baku, and with only 69 points separating him from the leader Oscar Piastri, Red Bull has closed the gap thanks to targeted technical work. McLaren pushed development to the maximum at the start of the year, quickly reaching the limits of their project. This strategy offered advantages in the heart of the season, but now its constraints are becoming evident.

Red Bull’s steady climb

On the other hand, Red Bull took an opposite approach: starting with more room for improvement, the team progressively enhanced the car’s performance, eventually matching and in some areas surpassing McLaren’s aerodynamic efficiency. Updates introduced after Zandvoort eliminated much of the understeer and balance issues that had plagued the RB21, giving Verstappen a car much closer to his driving preferences. The results are clear: consistent lap times, a regained race pace, and a feeling of stability that puts him back at the center of the championship fight.

Championship fight heats up

Television pundits talk about an “inexplicable” comeback, but in the paddock, there is a clear understanding that the scenario predicted in March is finally taking shape: a tight championship with multiple teams on the same level. McLaren remains a benchmark, but Ferrari, Mercedes, and especially Red Bull are now closing the gap. In this uncertain balance, the difference comes down to Max Verstappen’s talent, widely considered the most complete and decisive driver on the grid. The combination of a competitive Red Bull and a champion in full control risks turning the season finale into a closely fought world championship battle, just when it seemed the outcome was already decided.