The concealed element that provides Max Verstappen and Red Bull additional optimism for 2027
With two wins out of the last three Grands Prix and a mere 0.196 seconds behind in Baku, Verstappen and Red Bull have decisively returned to the forefront of Formula 1. This comeback, however, has come too late to significantly impact the championship battle, although Verstappen is now eyeing a top-three finish in the drivers' standings.
Following the Singapore race weekend, Verstappen is trailing Lewis Hamilton by just eight points, with Russell sitting only 17 points ahead of the Dutch driver. In essence, claiming the runner-up position in the championship is a genuine possibility.
When Motorsport.com inquired if Verstappen is beginning to feel anxious about December 12 – the date of the annual FIA gala in Shanghai – a grin spread across his face.
"Is that the awards ceremony? Well, I was quite ill last year! But we’ll see what unfolds."
Nonetheless, a second or third-place finish in the final standings wouldn’t hold much significance for Verstappen, as he expressed to the Dutch media in the Singapore paddock. Given the challenging start to 2026 followed by a notable turnaround, such an outcome might usually be more meaningful, but Verstappen doesn’t view it that way.
"No, because in the end, you're not winning. You're not becoming world champion, and that’s what truly matters to me."
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
The aspect of 2026 that bolsters Verstappen’s confidence
While the championship title is unattainable this season, Red Bull's resurgence offers optimism for the next year.
"The key is to reflect on where we started this season and our current position," Verstappen stated, noting that Red Bull was still contending with Haas and Alpine in China and Japan.
"All the improvements that have been made to the car since that point, along with the issues we faced with certain components, have been resolved. That’s crucial as we head into next year.
"When you notice that some teams are still uncertain about their new upgrades, everything seems to be working for us, which is a real positive."
Verstappen has previously mentioned that certain limitations of the 2026 car cannot be eliminated, implying that more fundamental changes will be necessary for the upcoming season’s car.
When asked by Motorsport.com if the development direction is fully established in that regard and whether it instills confidence in him, he replied:
"You can never be completely sure. It's always challenging to assert that about developments that exist only in theory and not in reality.
“However, everything we've implemented in the car this year has been successful. That's very encouraging, and we hope to build on that for next year."
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
What’s the latest on Red Bull's long-anticipated new wind tunnel?
Verstappen also highlighted another, less visible element that could benefit Red Bull as 2027 approaches:
"Naturally, we’ll have a new wind tunnel available next year. It’s a distinct issue, but we certainly hope it will function effectively and assist us."
The wind tunnel currently utilized by Red Bull is the oldest on the F1 grid. During his tenure as team principal, Christian Horner often referred to it as “a Cold War relic” and remarked that using the 70-year-old facility near Bedford felt like comparing “two different watches,” emphasizing how the correlation between wind tunnel data and on-track performance has faltered multiple times.
The accuracy of this correlation in 2026 shouldn’t be taken for granted, although Verstappen noted that the new regulations and car dimensions may also be contributing factors.
"Those previous issues could have been partially due to the car's width and length [and the replication capabilities of the model]. We have different cars now, but the key takeaway is that we'll be able to utilize the new wind tunnel next year."
Verstappen acknowledged that the new wind tunnel isn’t yet ready for the initial development of the RB23 – given that process is already active – but it will be available for ongoing development throughout the season. This will be pivotal, as the second year under these regulations is likely to see a fierce development race.
Pierre Waché previously informed Motorsport.com that the wind tunnel is expected to be operational by early 2027, possibly in February, as indicated by Red Bull in Singapore. Nevertheless, the precise timing in the first quarter of 2027 will still hinge on factors such as calibration, ensuring that Red Bull can fully trust its new facility.
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