Verstappen explains 'aggressive' Red Bull setup behind title comeback

14:42, 05 Nov

byOlly Darcy

Max Verstappen has explained the "aggressive way" he has gone about setting up his Red Bull machine, allowing him to stage his remarkable title turnaround.

"The upgrades made it possible to run the car in a different configuration."

- Max Verstappen

Nine upgrades in the last ten Grands Prix from the Austrian team have seen them rediscover their form after a disappointing first half of the 2025 season, with Verstappen's red-hot form giving him wins in Monza, Baku and Austin.

Those wins, along with podiums in Singapore and Mexico City, now see the four-time world champion sit just 36 points off championship leader Lando Norris, clawing back a deficit that sat at 104 points just six Grand Prix weekends ago at the Dutch Grand Prix.

"We tried a lot of things, and a lot of them did not work," Verstappen said in the Mexico City paddock on Thursday, explaining the changes made that revitalised his season.

Max Verstappen celebrating his United States Grand Prix victory - Photo: Race Pictures

"The upgrades made it possible to run the car in a different configuration, and these cars are super sensitive, so if you are sliding a bit less, the tyres also work a bit better, and that gives you better race pace.

"So there were a lot of things that just came together, which suddenly unlocked quite a bit more pace within the car. Naturally, that gives me a bit more confidence, and it allowed us to set up the car in a little bit more of an aggressive way, a bit more on the nose, and without losing the rear, and that's exactly what you want.

"It is impossible to know how competitive we are going to be, so I will just race my race."

War of words breaking out

The late-season upgrades from Red Bull that have seen them turn their season around have brought on a war of words between the Austrian team and McLaren.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said that the Austrian team would be "happier to give up a little bit" on their 2026 machine due to the plethora of updates they have produced so close to the end of the season.

However, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko laughed off what the Italian had to say, while Laurent Mekies, team principal of the Austrian team, stated that it is "a net gain" for his team, dismissing Stella's thoughts.

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