Did Baku truly represent Max Verstappen's greatest opportunity to secure victory in F1 2026?

In addition to enhanced performance, the upgrade also improved the drivers' comfort in the car, at least on the Baku circuit.

"Baku is a very unique track, with specific tarmac, but the way the car was handling in terms of cornering balance this weekend, from the first lap in FP1, I was thinking, 'Okay, this is looking pretty good'," Isack Hadjar commented.

"In the latter half of the car [the power unit], we’re definitely lagging compared to Mercedes. However, in terms of brake handling, the car was definitely a step up from Budapest," Hadjar noted, referencing the last race before his wrist injury. "So, yeah, I’m really pleased with that [the car's feel]."

Verstappen echoed that sentiment, feeling the confidence to tackle the corners, which is crucial at a track like Baku. "Yeah, I mean, it’s a unique track. It has mainly 90-degree corners, but it felt a bit more balanced overall," the Dutch driver stated.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

"But as I mentioned, there are other issues with the car that we really need to address because there's just free lap time available there. That’s what we are focusing on. The performance upgrades worked well, and we’ve been generally satisfied all weekend with what I had from the car."

Regarding the issues causing 'free' lap time loss, Verstappen is alluding to 'car degradation' challenges and inefficiencies in the electrical aspect of the power unit, which are not on par with Mercedes.

Despite the technical team's improvements led by Pierre Wache proving effective, Verstappen insists that the Baku race weekend represented Red Bull’s best opportunity for a win in 2026.

This is not solely due to the circuit layout, but also because Mercedes is set to introduce its long-awaited upgrade package for the W17 in Malaysia – accompanied by an ADUO upgrade for the power unit as well.

"If they’re bringing an upgrade to Malaysia, then it’s going to present a bit more of a challenge for us," the four-time world champion remarked.

"If Mercedes rolls out an upgrade that proves effective, they’ll pull ahead again, and that’s not what we want. It will make winning even tougher, but we’ll strive every single weekend and, of course, if the chance arises, we’ll seize it."

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

When Motorsport.com inquired whether Mekies shares this perspective, or if the race pace in Baku gives him faith in future opportunities, the team principal replied:

"I believe both statements hold truth. It’s fair for Max to assess this track as the one that was most beneficial for us on paper. So I think that’s accurate; it has likely been the most favorable track for us in terms of car characteristics.

"At the same time, I think the performance we showcased in the race gives us reasonable hope that we will have a few more chances before the year concludes."

Furthermore, Mekies emphasizes that the remaining race weekends this year are not only about clinching that coveted victory. Equally important is for Red Bull to gather insights for 2027, ideally enabling them to create a car capable of consistently competing at the front next season.

Verstappen has consistently stated that significant changes are no longer feasible in 2026, but they are essential for mounting a championship challenge next year. Mekies acknowledges this and asserts that the upcoming race weekends are crucial in this regard as well.

"In addition to securing a couple more opportunities for that first win, it’s also beneficial to visit tracks where we will face more challenges, as that’s exactly what we need to confront to keep progressing," he stated.

Nonetheless, a year without a victory would be noteworthy, marking the first time since 2015 for both Verstappen and Red Bull.