Verstappen’s eight straight podiums mark Red Bull’s recovery

Eight straight podiums have made Max Verstappen’s run from Monza to Brazil the clearest marker of Red Bull’s 2026 recovery. He finished third at Monza, second in Madrid and Azerbaijan, won the Bahrain and Singapore Grands Prix, took third in the United States, won in Mexico and finished second in Brazil.

Verstappen had also reached the podium in Austria, Belgium and Hungary before the summer break. After the break, a first-lap crash ended his Zandvoort race; the eight-race streak began at Monza. Earlier in 2026, the RB22 had persistent balance problems and unpredictable responses to setup changes, despite the FIA describing Red Bull’s new power unit as the strongest in the field. Verstappen was frustrated by the car and outspoken about the new regulations; at one point he openly questioned his future in Formula 1. He has since re-signed with Red Bull.

Red Bull’s Baku upgrade package marked a decisive step, although the podium run had already begun at Monza. Isack Hadjar finished third in Azerbaijan on his return after missing three races with a wrist injury, then reached the podium again in Brazil. Those were his two podiums in six starts since the summer break.

Verstappen scored 170 points since the summer break, one fewer than Kimi Antonelli’s 171. Across the last nine races, both won three times; Verstappen finished on the podium eight times to Antonelli’s seven.