With two victories in the last three Grands Prix and a deficit of just 0.196 seconds in Baku, Verstappen and Red Bull are firmly back at the front in Formula 1. The resurgence has come too late to play a meaningful role in the title fight, but Verstappen now has a top-three finish in the drivers' championship in his sights. He trails Lewis Hamilton by just eight points after the Singapore race weekend, while Russell is only 17 points ahead of the Dutchman, making runner-up a realistic prospect.
When Autosport asked whether Verstappen was already worried about 12 December, when the annual FIA gala takes place in Shanghai, he smiled. "Is that the prize-giving ceremony? Well, I was really ill last year! But we'll see what happens." A second- or third-place finish would mean little to him, however. "No, because ultimately you're not winning. You're not becoming world champion, and that's the only thing that matters to me."
While the title is out of reach this season, Red Bull's resurgence gives confidence for next year. Verstappen pointed to the upgrades introduced since the season's difficult start and the team's success in solving problems with certain car parts. He noted that some rivals still have doubts about their new upgrades, while everything is working for Red Bull. He also acknowledged that certain limitations of the 2026 car cannot be eliminated, so more fundamental changes will be needed for next season's car.
A more hidden factor could also help as 2027 progresses: a new wind tunnel arriving next year. Red Bull's current facility is the oldest on the F1 grid, and Christian Horner once called it "a Cold War relic." That the wind tunnel's correlation with on-track performance has proved accurate in 2026 is therefore not something to be taken for granted, and Verstappen suggested that the new regulations and car dimensions may be helping.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing