While Max Verstappen mulled the grim prospect of ending the season winless at Monza, the narrative has now shifted dramatically.
He flirted with victory in Baku before clinching wins in the Malaysia‑Singapore triple‑header.
That stands in stark contrast to early‑year days when Red Bull lingered in fourth and even battled Haas and Alpine.
The speculation about his future resurfaced, yet at Zandvoort he admitted retirement felt nearer than a team switch.
Ahead of his home Grand Prix, the long‑term contract was renegotiated, adding two more years – for my money, the extension signals Red Bull’s confidence in staying at the front.
Now the Milton Keynes outfit is back in win contention, prompting the query whether Verstappen already sensed the upcoming surge.
In short, did he know the next upgrade would restore Red Bull’s competitiveness?
“No, not really. It was more about talking future ideas and the team’s direction,” he said. “I liked those concepts. It wasn’t a sales pitch, just a general chat with the crew.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
“Working with this team has been genuinely enjoyable. The progress we’ve made is a nice bonus, because fighting at the front feels far more rewarding.”
Verstappen added the Baku upgrade isn’t just raw speed; the RB22 now feels far more predictable, which matters hugely.
That predictability lets the driver extract more performance, within the limits of current power‑unit rules.
“The biggest change is the car’s newfound predictability and balance. Earlier this year I often entered corners blind,” he explained. “The car behaved oddly back then.”
“You couldn’t push it to the limit because the limits kept shifting. Recent races have been better, as we now know where the limit lies and enjoy a steadier balance.”
Team principal Laurent Mekies dismissed claims Red Bull foresaw the Baku leap to sway Verstappen’s pen.
“Short answer: no. We weren’t waiting for a magic upgrade to lift us,” the Frenchman clarified.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal
“We knew upgrades were coming and that Baku would be the season’s final one. It continued our car’s development trend, and we expected to miss those last three tenths.”
“So it wasn’t a bargaining chip during the talks.”
Mekies emphasized the extension hinged on long‑term confidence in Red Bull delivering competitive cars.
The Baku package served more as an internal showcase of potential when all components click, not a contract lever.
“Globally, we felt strong dynamics in Pierre Wache’s and Ben Hodgkinson’s teams, reflecting the chassis and PU potential,” Mekies continued.
“We discussed those long‑term factors with Max. It wasn’t about the Baku spec, but the underlying opportunities. No specific Baku talk was used.”
Both Mekies and Verstappen stress the current state still falls short; Red Bull must tackle lingering weaknesses.
With the present chassis and budget‑cap limits, 2026 won’t solve everything, so Verstappen warns further changes are vital for a competitive 2027 car.
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– The Team