Verstappen closes championship gap with four races remaining
Max Verstappen has recovered 78 points over the past ten races to sit second in the Drivers' Championship as Formula 1 heads toward its climax in Mexico.
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A remarkable recovery unfolds across the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Ten races ago, Max Verstappen trailed the championship leader by 78 points, a deficit that appeared imposing even for a four time world champion. The gap has narrowed considerably as Red Bull Racing has found rhythm when it mattered most.
Verstappen now holds second place in the Drivers’ Championship with 261 points, positioning himself within reach of the title as the season races toward its conclusion. Four grands prix remain to decide the 2026 championship, each carrying the weight of possibility.
The momentum through the mid season stretch demonstrates the calibre of both driver and team. Red Bull has answered the challenge methodically, extracting performance from machine and strategy alike. Mexico has traditionally suited Verstappen’s approach to racing, and with the championship still very much in contention, the weekend ahead carries significance beyond a single result.
The narrative reshapes itself at every circuit. Where 78 points once loomed as insurmountable, the closing races now promise intensity of the kind that defines championship battles. The work continues, the push remains relentless, and the outcome remains beautifully uncertain.
Imagery courtesy of Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing).