Red Bull’s remarkable Formula 1 resurgence has transformed Max Verstappen’s prospects, with Jolyon Palmer and Alex Jacques suggesting the Dutchman could enter the 2027 championship as one of the favourites for the title. After a difficult start to the 2026 season, the Austrian team has rediscovered its competitiveness through technical upgrades and the leadership of Laurent Mekies, raising concerns for Mercedes and its rivals.
Red Bull’s victories in Malaysia and Singapore have underlined the scale of its recovery. Problems that compromised the RB22 during the opening part of the championship appear to have been largely resolved, allowing Max Verstappen to return to winning ways and giving the team renewed confidence ahead of 2027.
Red Bull’s 2026 F1 resurgence has transformed the RB22
Red Bull’s recovery is particularly impressive considering the difficulties it faced at the beginning of the season. The introduction of its first in-house Formula 1 power unit presented a major challenge under the new regulations, while shortcomings with the car initially prevented Max Verstappen from competing consistently at the front.
However, a series of technical developments has changed the situation dramatically. The recent victories in Malaysia and Singapore have confirmed the effectiveness of Red Bull’s improvements, with the team managing to address several weaknesses that previously limited its performance.
Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes the latest version of the Red Bull is now an exceptionally complete package, with few obvious shortcomings remaining.
“I look at Red Bull with the upgrades, and the weaknesses we used to hear about don’t seem to be there any more,” Jolyon Palmer explained.
“I think Max mentioned the downshifts once in Singapore, because he starts to feel instability when he downshifts aggressively, but they’ve managed to eliminate that problem for years. At the moment, I don’t see any weakness.”
The assessment highlights how much progress Red Bull has made in addressing the handling characteristics that previously complicated Max Verstappen’s efforts. The improvements have provided the Dutchman with a more competitive package and allowed him to make better use of the RB22’s potential.
Max Verstappen’s remarkable recovery against Kimi Antonelli
Alex Jacques also highlighted the importance of the technical upgrades, which have given Max Verstappen a car better suited to his driving style. The results demonstrate just how significant Red Bull’s transformation has been.
After the opening six races of the season, Max Verstappen was already 113 points behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. Remarkably, across the following 11 races, the Dutchman lost only another six points to the championship leader.
That turnaround illustrates the extraordinary improvement in Red Bull’s competitiveness and the consistency Max Verstappen has demonstrated even when his car was not the strongest on the grid.
“It’s incredible the form he’s shown when he didn’t have the fastest car, and now he does. He’s formidable, and I think everyone else is almost afraid to take him on. There’s almost a sense of resignation from the rest of the field when you’re up against Max,” Jolyon Palmer said.
The four-time world champion’s ability to extract competitive results from a difficult package has made Red Bull’s recovery particularly significant. With the car now capable of fighting for victories again, his performances have reinforced the belief that he could become a major championship contender in 2027.
Laurent Mekies praised for rebuilding Red Bull after Christian Horner’s exit
Red Bull’s resurgence has not been limited to improvements on the circuit. The team’s internal management has also played an important role, particularly following Christian Horner’s departure and Laurent Mekies’ appointment as team principal.
Laurent Mekies has been credited with bringing the organisation back together during a difficult period, maintaining Max Verstappen’s central role in the project and restoring stability after months of uncertainty.
Jolyon Palmer believes the French manager deserves considerable recognition for keeping the team focused on winning races despite the challenges it faced at the start of the 2026 season.
“But he managed to galvanise them so well last season and also this year, trying to get the team moving again. And he managed to keep the team fully focused on winning races this season, when things could really have spiralled out of control at the beginning. So I think Laurent has done a superb job, and looking towards next year, you’ve got stability.”
The leadership changes have coincided with significant technical progress, helping Red Bull recover from what had appeared to be a deep competitive crisis. The team’s ability to maintain a clear direction has become an important part of its preparations for the next championship.
Why Jolyon Palmer believes Max Verstappen could be 2027 F1 title favourite
For Jolyon Palmer, the combination of Laurent Mekies’ leadership, the progress made by Red Bull Powertrains and Max Verstappen’s exceptional ability creates a strong foundation for 2027.
The former Formula 1 driver believes Red Bull does not necessarily need to produce the outright fastest car for Max Verstappen to become world champion again. A competitive package capable of consistently challenging for victories could be enough to make the Dutchman the leading contender.
“The powertrains department has done a superb job. I don’t even think you need to give Max the best car for him to become champion. If he has a chance to win, I think he’ll start the [2027] season as favourite, and the way the team has rallied around him – Isack Hadjar, we’re not going to think he can become champion – I think that probably helps Max.”
Jolyon Palmer’s assessment also reflects the clear position Max Verstappen occupies within Red Bull. With Isack Hadjar alongside him, the team can continue concentrating its championship ambitions around the four-time world champion.
Nevertheless, Red Bull still faces the challenge of consolidating its recent progress and maintaining its momentum during the remaining races of 2026. The improvements achieved so far have restored the team’s competitiveness, but carrying that performance into the following season will be essential.
After beginning the year with significant technical difficulties and an uncertain competitive outlook, Red Bull now appears capable of challenging the strongest teams once again. If the progress continues, Max Verstappen could enter 2027 as one of the most serious threats to Mercedes and the rest of the Formula 1 grid.
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