Verstappen secured his third win in the last four races in Austin, cutting championship leader Oscar Piastri’s advantage to 40 points. Piastri’s McLaren team-mate Lando Norris remains within reach too, just 14 points behind the Australian, as the title battle tightens heading into the final stretch of the season.
The four-time world champion completed a perfect weekend in Texas, claiming both sprint and grand prix poles before converting them into victories. It was the third time Verstappen has achieved this feat, a record unmatched by any other driver in Formula 1 history.
Just a few weeks ago, Verstappen’s hopes appeared slim after trailing Piastri by 104 points following the Dutch Grand Prix. However, a run of second, first, first, second, and first-place finishes has transformed the championship picture.
Even Verstappen admitted he had not believed such a recovery was possible. “If someone had told me after Zandvoort that I’d be back in contention, I would’ve called them an idiot,” he said.
Mekies, clearly impressed by the 27-year-old’s determination, described Verstappen’s performances as exceptional. “Watching Max driving is watching history in the making,” he said.
“He surprises us every time he’s on track, with how much he pushes, his attention to detail, and his sensitivity to things others can’t see.”
Despite the growing momentum, Mekies stressed that Red Bull remain focused on the job ahead. “We never project ourselves,” he explained. “The team is concentrating on improving for each session.
“We’ll analyse what limited us here and what we can do better in Mexico.”
The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes with the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, 26 October, at the 4.304km Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Verstappen will look to continue his charge toward a fifth world championship.
