Max Verstappen has detailed how Red Bull's season has swung "left
and right" following a brilliant victory in the Azerbaijan Grand
Prix. The four-time world champion converted pole position into a
comfortable win at the Baku City Circuit – his fourth victory of
the season. It has drawn him to within 69 points of championship
leader Oscar Piastri with seven races remaining, following a shock
crash for the McLaren driver. Verstappen's season has been full of
highs and lows, to the extent that he was over 100 points adrift of
Piastri just two races ago. Red Bull's early year difficulties and
the firing of Christian Horner saw 2025 become a campaign of
preparation for 2026, but has suddenly become one where a title
could be won. The Milton Keynes-based outfit's new floor
introduced in Monza has transformed the RB21, allowing Verstappen
to win back-to-back races. For Verstappen, Red Bull has found
performance at the perfect moment with seven races still remaining,
with him having dominated in Baku. "I think overall, just a great
weekend for us," said Verstappen. "I think for sure, starting up
front was key, especially in the beginning, just managing your
tyres to go long. "But, yeah, overall, very happy with how the
race was going. I could go very long in that first stint. The car
was doing pretty much what I wanted it to do. Just how much you
commit, to push around here, which is not always easy with the
layout of the track, the wind as well. "It was quite tough with
that. But, yeah, we just stayed out until basically everyone
pitted. And then there were only a few laps left on the medium,
clearing a few backmarkers, which took a bit of time. "But after
that, just bringing it home. And for us, that’s another just great
result. A bit unusual. This season has been really swinging left
and right, but at least now two weekends in a row, it’s been going
really well." RB21 making huge progress Verstappen has comfortably
been the quickest driver across the past two grands prix,
demonstrating the sort of dominance which has seen him cruise to
recent world titles. While he still faces a huge points deficit to
claim a fifth consecutive crown, the improved RB21 has given him
the confidence to take the fight to McLaren. Asked if Baku was the
best the RB21 has felt, Verstappen answered: "I guess together with
Monza. Yep. Monza has never really been a particularly strong track
for us, so to do that, that was already a big plus. "And I guess
all in all for me here in Baku, it’s been alright, but never
amazing — apart from maybe '21, '22, I guess. "But the rest has
always been a bit difficult. So, yeah, to have a weekend like this,
it was very important."
and right" following a brilliant victory in the Azerbaijan Grand
Prix. The four-time world champion converted pole position into a
comfortable win at the Baku City Circuit – his fourth victory of
the season. It has drawn him to within 69 points of championship
leader Oscar Piastri with seven races remaining, following a shock
crash for the McLaren driver. Verstappen's season has been full of
highs and lows, to the extent that he was over 100 points adrift of
Piastri just two races ago. Red Bull's early year difficulties and
the firing of Christian Horner saw 2025 become a campaign of
preparation for 2026, but has suddenly become one where a title
could be won. The Milton Keynes-based outfit's new floor
introduced in Monza has transformed the RB21, allowing Verstappen
to win back-to-back races. For Verstappen, Red Bull has found
performance at the perfect moment with seven races still remaining,
with him having dominated in Baku. "I think overall, just a great
weekend for us," said Verstappen. "I think for sure, starting up
front was key, especially in the beginning, just managing your
tyres to go long. "But, yeah, overall, very happy with how the
race was going. I could go very long in that first stint. The car
was doing pretty much what I wanted it to do. Just how much you
commit, to push around here, which is not always easy with the
layout of the track, the wind as well. "It was quite tough with
that. But, yeah, we just stayed out until basically everyone
pitted. And then there were only a few laps left on the medium,
clearing a few backmarkers, which took a bit of time. "But after
that, just bringing it home. And for us, that’s another just great
result. A bit unusual. This season has been really swinging left
and right, but at least now two weekends in a row, it’s been going
really well." RB21 making huge progress Verstappen has comfortably
been the quickest driver across the past two grands prix,
demonstrating the sort of dominance which has seen him cruise to
recent world titles. While he still faces a huge points deficit to
claim a fifth consecutive crown, the improved RB21 has given him
the confidence to take the fight to McLaren. Asked if Baku was the
best the RB21 has felt, Verstappen answered: "I guess together with
Monza. Yep. Monza has never really been a particularly strong track
for us, so to do that, that was already a big plus. "And I guess
all in all for me here in Baku, it’s been alright, but never
amazing — apart from maybe '21, '22, I guess. "But the rest has
always been a bit difficult. So, yeah, to have a weekend like this,
it was very important."
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