Verstappen puts Red Bull’s 2027 car ahead of championship position

Max Verstappen has little interest in where he finishes in the Drivers’ Championship as the 2026 season reaches its final races. His focus, he says, is helping Red Bull secure third in the teams’ standings and make substantial changes to its car for next year.

Speaking ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen said that only winning the drivers’ title would matter to him. He is currently six points behind George Russell in second and five behind Lewis Hamilton in third. Red Bull is also level on points with McLaren.

Red Bull’s immediate target is third in the teams’ standings

Verstappen said the team’s priority for the remaining races is to claim third in the Constructors’ Championship. He made clear that, for him personally, there is little distinction between finishing second or fifth in the drivers’ standings.

That stance comes after a sharp change in Red Bull’s results. Following a frustrating wait for wins, Verstappen narrowly missed out in Azerbaijan before taking consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore. The recovery has lifted him into the fight near the top of the standings, but he is not treating a higher individual position as the main objective. Read more about Verstappen’s first Red Bull victory of 2026.

The longer-term task is more demanding. Verstappen said Red Bull still has significant changes to make and is not satisfied with the progress made this season. The aim, he explained, is to bring the car together more effectively and begin next year with a stronger package. The team has not finished outside the top three in the constructors’ standings since 2015.

Austin problems leave Mexico prospects uncertain

Verstappen arrives in Mexico with five wins at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, but he stopped short of predicting another. In Austin, he finished third after being unable to keep Charles Leclerc behind for second, and said a combination of issues had cost performance.

He reported damage to his car, other elements that were not working as desired, and an engine that was not operating or delivering horsepower as the team wanted. Red Bull has identified problems to address, but Verstappen stressed that the Mexico circuit presents a different situation, making the likely competitive picture difficult to judge.

Fixing those shortcomings should improve the car’s pace, he said, but that alone does not guarantee a victory challenge. The broader focus remains on learning from the Austin weekend, pursuing third in the teams’ standings and laying groundwork for the next season. Red Bull’s 2027 planning is also drawing attention as the team looks ahead.