Max Verstappen and Red Bull have once again proven to be an unstoppable force in Formula 1. After an extraordinary weekend in Austin, which saw the Dutch driver take two pole positions and claim victory in both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix, the reigning world champion has reignited talk of a potential fifth world title. A scenario that seemed unthinkable after the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, where Verstappen finished second behind Oscar Piastri and saw his gap over his fellow countryman shrink to 104 points.
The RB21 is finally competitive again
Red Bull’s resurgence began in Monza, marking the start of a powerful comeback for both Verstappen and the Austrian team. Credit must be given to Red Bull for continuing to believe in the RB21 project despite McLaren’s dominant form. Among the most important upgrades introduced were the new floor, which debuted successfully in Italy, and the sixth front wing specification, used in Singapore. And the development push is not over yet — team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that more updates are coming before the season ends.
This renewed effort from Red Bull is built on the confidence of having the strongest driver on the grid. It must also be acknowledged that today’s RB21 is very different from the early-season version. The car’s performance — especially considering the results of the second driver — has been steadily improving. In Austin, Yuki Tsunoda also performed solidly, scoring points in both the chaotic Sprint and Sunday’s race. It is difficult to describe the magnitude of what Max Verstappen is trying to achieve. The odds of clinching the championship remain slim, but the fact that he is still in contention with only five races left is nothing short of remarkable.
Max finds unexpected allies
Unlike what happened in Singapore, Max Verstappen received unexpected help from his rivals in Texas. Ferrari’s drivers managed to finish ahead of a subdued Oscar Piastri, who ended the race in fifth place. The Australian’s recent dip in form has been noticeable, and his Sprint Race start incident on Saturday certainly didn’t help him recover momentum over the weekend.
With no clear teammate support, the four-time Formula 1 world champion is now relying on Ferrari and Mercedes to take points away from the McLaren duo. In Austin, Charles Leclerc’s determination helped Verstappen build a comfortable lead in the first stint, opening an eleven-second gap over Lando Norris. The same script followed in the second stint, where Norris had to push to the limit to overtake Leclerc. Once past the Monegasque driver, Norris showed impressive pace, possibly even faster than Verstappen — though it remains unclear how much the Dutchman was managing his soft tyres to control degradation.
McLaren caught off guard by Red Bull’s progress
Within the Red Bull camp, the mood is one of calm confidence mixed with renewed enthusiasm. Many believed that Christian Horner’s departure would mark the beginning of a long rebuilding phase before returning to the top. Instead, the team has doubled down on its post-Newey technical project, defying critics who claimed there was no untapped potential left in the RB21.
In a bold and somewhat risky move, given the looming 2026 regulation changes, Red Bull chose to continue developing this year’s car rather than shifting focus to the future. This decision completely caught McLaren off guard — the Woking-based team had halted updates to the MCL39, convinced that Verstappen would not pose a serious threat to their drivers. Now, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri find themselves under growing pressure from a driver who thrives on championship battles.
No matter how the season ends, Max Verstappen and Red Bull are rewriting the narrative of this Formula 1 championship. In just a few weeks, fans will find out whether this story will culminate in one of the most epic finales in modern F1 history.
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