Max Verstappen has opened up on Red Bull’s mid-season turnaround, admitting he wondered whether the team could still “turn it around” before a return to winning form. After a bruising run that exposed weaknesses on certain layouts, the Dutchman’s recent victories — including dominant displays in Italy and Azerbaijan — have restored momentum and evoked memories of his 2023 supremacy.
From slump to surge
Just weeks before the latest wins, such a resurgence felt unlikely. The team struggled at tracks like the Hungaroring, where Verstappen finished only ninth and even fell behind rivals he would usually keep at arm’s length. Set-up sensitivity, tyre windows and operating margins were all under scrutiny as the team searched for answers.
Unlocking pace when it mattered
The response since has been emphatic. Cleaner weekends, sharper execution and a car window better aligned to Verstappen’s style have combined to flip the narrative. The result: a platform to fight at the front again and the sense that Red Bull’s development path is back on track.
What it means for the title fight
With McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri jostling for position and stealing points from each other, Verstappen’s rebound has real championship significance. He calls the latest wins “extra special” precisely because they followed doubts — the kind of psychological lift that can power a late-season push. If Red Bull can keep the car in its sweet spot, the run-in has every chance of going down to the wire.
