"A few short months ago Max Verstappen's world championship defence appeared to be over. But when he took the flag in Sunday's US Grand Prix it heralded the most remarkable resurgence as he waded with a gleeful swagger back into the title fight. Verstappen was down but he is far from out and could yet still pull off what would count as his greatest triumph."
"On the evidence of those four races Monza, Baku, Singapore and Austin his Red Bull car is now the quickest in the field or at very least on a par with the previously dominant McLaren. He has won on every type of track, including crucially on Sunday in Austin on a traditional circuit, indeed one with high tyre wear, of the type where McLaren has held the whip hand all season."
"His belief is in part then down to the impressive job Red Bull have done in turning round the car, which the Dutchman found all but undriveable due to its lack of balance and unpredictable handling for over half the season, into another all-round race winner. The upgraded floor and front wing they brought to these latter races and which was a gamble by Red Bull in maintaining development after McLaren had long since shifted their resources to the 2026 car, proved inspired."
Max Verstappen recovered dramatically in the championship by winning three of the four races after the Dutch Grand Prix, cutting Oscar Piastri's lead from 104 to 40 points. He entered Austin 55 points behind Piastri and left 40 points behind following a comprehensive victory at the Circuit of the Americas. Red Bull transformed a previously undriveable car into an all-around race winner through upgrades to the floor and front wing. Those upgrades were a development gamble while McLaren shifted focus to 2026. Verstappen has won on varied tracks including high-tyre-wear circuits, leaving the remaining five races manageable.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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