Verstappen says second or fifth in F1 standings makes no difference

F1 / NEWS & CONTEXTNEWS & CONTEXT

Max Verstappen says second or fifth in the 2026 drivers’ championship makes no difference to him. He says Red Bull will try for third in the constructors’ championship, which he thinks is what the team wants.

GPBeat · NewsroomGPBeat · Newsroom30 Oct 2026, 18:19 · 1 min

Asked how important it was to finish as high as possible in the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship, Max Verstappen said he did not care whether he finished second or fifth: “It is all about first place.”

With Kimi Antonelli able to clinch the title at the Mexico Grand Prix, attention is turning to the fight for second. Four drivers remain in contention: George Russell has 242 points, one ahead of Lewis Hamilton; Verstappen has 236 and Charles Leclerc 233.

Verstappen said Red Bull would try for third in the constructors’ championship, adding that he thought this was what the team wanted.

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