Hezemans expects Verstappen on Austin podium, but stops short of predicting victory

Mike Hezemans is fairly sure Max Verstappen will finish on the podium in Austin, but is less certain he will win the United States Grand Prix. Antonelli could suddenly find something that makes him difficult to catch, Hezemans said.

His confidence is rooted in Red Bull's recent form: the team won its two previous races, in Malaysia and Singapore, and Hezemans believes it has found a solid base that needs only small adjustments.

The development battle has also affected the 2026 pecking order: Ferrari and McLaren have both previously reached the top step before falling back, and both are bringing upgrades to Austin. Hezemans cautioned that an update can be hard to exploit if its operating window is narrow, especially when track temperatures change.