{"id":3936,"date":"2026-10-14T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=3936"},"modified":"2026-10-13T08:19:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T11:19:37","slug":"verstappens-red-bull-revival-is-laying-the-groundwork-to-challenge-antonelli-in-f1-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/verstappens-red-bull-revival-is-laying-the-groundwork-to-challenge-antonelli-in-f1-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Verstappen&#8217;s Red Bull revival is laying the groundwork to challenge Antonelli in F1 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Verstappen has won consecutive grands prix at Sepang and Singapore<\/strong>, two circuits with very different technical characteristics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Red Bull&#8217;s development programme has transformed the RB22&#8217;s balance and performance, while Mercedes continues working to optimise its latest upgrade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The progress provides a foundation for 2027<\/strong>, when Verstappen could challenge Antonelli and Mercedes from the beginning of the season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Max Verstappen&#8217;s victories in Malaysia and Singapore have changed the competitive picture in Formula 1, but their greatest significance may not be felt until <strong>the 2027 championship, when Red Bull hopes to challenge Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes from the opening race<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The four-time world champion has dominated the last two grands prix, turning a difficult season into a demonstration of how far Red Bull has progressed with its RB22 and the Red Bull-Ford power unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Sepang, Verstappen secured pole position and victory on a circuit combining long straights, medium-speed corners and demanding traction zones. One week later, he repeated the result at Singapore&#8217;s Marina Bay street circuit, adding victory in the sprint and securing both pole positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contrast between the two venues is particularly important. <strong>Red Bull has demonstrated competitive performance on circuits requiring very different aerodynamic and mechanical characteristics<\/strong>, suggesting that its improvements are more substantial than a setup advantage limited to one type of track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the recovery has arrived at a point when Antonelli has already established a commanding championship lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Mercedes driver has 340 points, compared with Verstappen&#8217;s 221, leaving the Dutchman 119 behind with six rounds remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/red-bulls-revival-has-changed-f1s-competitive-order-but-is-it-too-late-for-verstappen\/\">mathematical challenge facing Verstappen in the 2026 championship<\/a> illustrates why Red Bull&#8217;s attention is increasingly turning towards next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Red Bull&#8217;s recovery began before its two victories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull&#8217;s 2026 campaign started with substantial technical challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RB22 was difficult to balance and unpredictable under braking, while the new Red Bull-Ford power unit presented additional reliability and energy-management demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those difficulties were particularly significant because 2026 marked Red Bull&#8217;s first season competing with a power unit developed through its own engine programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team also had to adapt to a new generation of Formula 1 technical regulations, making the development process more complicated than a conventional season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen&#8217;s first podium came in Canada, followed by second place in Austria. Further progress became visible at Spa-Francorchamps and the Hungaroring, where the team began converting smaller aerodynamic developments into improved race performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decisive change, however, arrived with the major upgrade package introduced at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Red Bull revised the RB22&#8217;s floor, sidepods and aerodynamic details<\/strong>, seeking to improve downforce generation and the consistency of airflow around the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The changes helped make the car more predictable, particularly during braking and corner entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen finished second in Baku, challenging George Russell before Red Bull demonstrated its improved competitiveness with victories in the following two grands prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-1024x576.png\" alt=\"F1 2026, SINGAPURA, MARINA BAY, CORRIDA, RED BULL, MAX VERSTAPPEN, CARRO\" class=\"wp-image-1020318079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-red-bull-max-verstappen-12.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Verstappen (Photo: Pirelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Sepang and Singapore provide stronger evidence than one victory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Winning at a single circuit can be misleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Formula 1 car may perform exceptionally well at one venue because its aerodynamic configuration, suspension characteristics or power-unit efficiency happen to match the circuit&#8217;s demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sepang and Singapore offered Red Bull two substantially different tests.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Malaysian circuit rewards aerodynamic efficiency, strong traction and high-speed stability. Its long straights also place considerable emphasis on energy deployment and power-unit performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Singapore requires a different approach, with lower average speeds, frequent acceleration zones, heavy braking and a greater emphasis on mechanical grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull adapted its aerodynamic configuration between the events, including changes designed to increase front-end performance and improve brake cooling at Marina Bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result was another dominant weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen controlled the Singapore Grand Prix from pole position, maintaining his advantage over Charles Leclerc despite communication difficulties and the challenges of managing tyres on a demanding street circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result gave Red Bull its second consecutive grand prix victory and demonstrated that the RB22 could perform strongly beyond the conditions that had favoured it at Sepang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verstappen finally has the car behaviour he wanted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transformation has also been visible in Verstappen&#8217;s assessment of the RB22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier in the season, the Dutchman frequently struggled with the car&#8217;s unpredictability, particularly under braking and through transitions between different cornering phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest developments have improved that behaviour, allowing him to attack more confidently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following his Singapore victory, Verstappen explained that Red Bull had made substantial progress in making the car easier to drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The improvement is important because <strong>predictability can be as valuable as outright downforce<\/strong>, particularly when a driver must extract performance during qualifying or manage tyre degradation over a race distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A car that responds consistently allows engineers and drivers to establish a more reliable setup baseline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That can also reduce the time required to adapt the car to different circuits, a potential advantage as Red Bull develops its 2027 challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Verstappen has cautioned against assuming the team will dominate every remaining event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austin, the next stop on the calendar, features a combination of fast corners, long straights and an uneven track surface that will provide another test of the RB22&#8217;s progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mercedes remains the benchmark \u2014 but its advantage is no longer absolute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes has been the strongest team across much of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli has built his championship advantage through eight grand prix victories, consistent podium finishes and an ability to capitalise when rivals have encountered difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">George Russell has also contributed substantially to the team&#8217;s success, although recent power-unit penalties and development problems have complicated his campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes&#8217; latest aerodynamic upgrade, introduced at Sepang, initially created uncertainty about the direction of its development programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Singapore, the team ran different specifications to understand the performance difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Russell returned to an older aerodynamic configuration, while Antonelli retained the updated package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mercedes subsequently confirmed that Antonelli&#8217;s upgraded car was faster by the end of the weekend<\/strong>, although the team acknowledged that the newer specification was more difficult to operate within its optimal setup window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings, detailed in <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/mercedes-sepang-upgrade-promised-more-speed-why-did-the-team-go-backwards\/\">Mercedes&#8217; assessment of its Singapore upgrade comparison<\/a>, indicate that the German manufacturer still has performance to extract from its existing developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That distinction matters for 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull has recently taken the initiative, but Mercedes has not exhausted its technical potential. Antonelli&#8217;s results also demonstrate that the team can continue scoring heavily even when it lacks the fastest car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-1024x576.png\" alt=\"F1 2026, SINGAPURA, MARINA BAY, CORRIDA, MERCEDES, KIMI ANTONELLI, CARRO\" class=\"wp-image-1020318041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mercedes-kimi-antonelli-2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kimi Antonelli (Photo: Mercedes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Red Bull-Ford&#8217;s first season could become an advantage in 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most important aspects of Red Bull&#8217;s recovery is the progress of its power-unit operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team entered 2026 with a new engine developed by Red Bull Powertrains in partnership with Ford, undertaking a challenge normally associated with established manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The initial difficulties involved reliability, energy management and the integration of the power unit with the chassis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the course of the season, Red Bull has improved the overall performance of the package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The development process has also been influenced by Formula 1&#8217;s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system, known as ADUO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mechanism is intended to provide additional development opportunities to manufacturers whose power units fall below defined performance thresholds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull&#8217;s engine has not qualified for the additional concessions it sought, limiting certain areas of development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, team principal Laurent Mekies has emphasised that the manufacturer can continue improving performance through areas not directly covered by restrictions on internal-combustion engine hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>That work includes energy management, calibration, integration and the overall efficiency of the power-unit package.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The experience gained during Red Bull-Ford&#8217;s first season could therefore provide a more mature technical foundation for 2027, although the extent of any improvement will only become clear once the next car begins testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mekies has rebuilt Red Bull&#8217;s technical direction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull&#8217;s recovery also reflects the work undertaken since Laurent Mekies became team principal in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Frenchman inherited an organisation undergoing significant changes following the departure of several senior technical figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His task involved restoring stability while preparing the team for the new technical regulations and the introduction of its own power-unit programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The progress achieved during the second half of 2026 suggests that the team has improved its ability to identify technical weaknesses and deliver effective developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Azerbaijan upgrade was particularly significant because it addressed fundamental aspects of the RB22&#8217;s behaviour<\/strong>, rather than simply adding downforce without resolving the underlying handling problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mekies has also indicated that Red Bull&#8217;s development resources are increasingly focused on its 2027 car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That creates an important connection between the current recovery and next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the regulations will continue evolving, the engineering knowledge gained from the RB22 can inform the design, simulation and setup philosophy of its successor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key question is whether Red Bull can carry that progress into a car that is competitive from the beginning of the championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">McLaren&#8217;s recovery offers a precedent for Red Bull<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Formula 1 has already provided an example of how a late-season technical recovery can establish the foundation for future success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McLaren transformed its competitive position through a sustained development programme during 2024, moving from midfield difficulties to regular victories and ultimately securing the Constructors&#8217; Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team carried that momentum into 2025, when it became the dominant force and secured both world titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull&#8217;s current situation is not identical, particularly because it is developing its own power unit and operating under a different regulatory framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, the comparison illustrates the importance of establishing a competitive technical platform before the beginning of a new season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The objective is not simply to finish 2026 with the fastest car, but to begin 2027 without the performance deficit that compromised Verstappen&#8217;s championship campaign this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That would allow the Dutchman to challenge Antonelli without needing another extraordinary recovery during the second half of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-1024x576.png\" alt=\"F1 2026, SINGAPURA, MARINA BAY, CORRIDA, McLAREN, LANDO NORRIS, CARRO\" class=\"wp-image-1020318075\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f1-2026-singapura-marina-bay-corrida-mclaren-lando-norris-5.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lando Norris (Photo: Pirelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Antonelli vs Verstappen could define Formula 1 in 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli is approaching the end of 2026 as the leading contender for the world championship, while Verstappen has re-established himself as the driver to beat in recent races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their situations highlight the difference between season-long consistency and immediate performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes built its championship advantage early and has continued collecting points even during less competitive weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red Bull, meanwhile, spent much of the year recovering from technical problems before finally developing a car capable of dominating races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For 2027, the balance could be very different if Red Bull begins the season with the competitiveness it has demonstrated at Sepang and Singapore.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, two victories do not establish that the Austrian team will be faster than Mercedes next year. Both manufacturers still have development programmes underway, and the performance of their 2027 cars remains unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next six grands prix will provide further evidence of whether Red Bull&#8217;s recent form represents a sustainable competitive advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austin will be the first opportunity to assess that progress after Singapore, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/f1-united-states-gp-2026-austin-schedule-start-times-and-how-to-watch\/\">United States Grand Prix scheduled for October 23\u201325<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1020318141\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Max-Verstappen-e-Kimi-Antonelli2.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Photo: Red Bull Content Pool)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Red Bull&#8217;s biggest gain may be the timing of its recovery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The timing of Red Bull&#8217;s progress is both its greatest frustration and its most encouraging development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RB22 has become competitive too late to give Verstappen a realistic chance of controlling the 2026 championship, but early enough to provide valuable technical information before the next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The improvements in aerodynamic balance, mechanical behaviour and power-unit integration address areas that caused difficulties during the opening months of the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes remains the benchmark in terms of championship performance, and Antonelli&#8217;s consistency has placed him in a commanding position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Red Bull&#8217;s challenge is to turn its late-season recovery into an opening-round advantage in 2027.<\/strong> If it succeeds, Verstappen could enter next season fighting Antonelli for victories from the beginning rather than spending another year recovering lost ground.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Max Verstappen&#8217;s consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore have transformed Red Bull&#8217;s competitive position. The recovery may have arrived too late to prevent Kimi Antonelli from winning the 2026 Formula 1 championship, but it offers evidence that the Austrian team is building a serious challenge for 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020318105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Max Verstappen","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Red Bull Content Pool","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[{"id":4,"location":""}],"footnotes":"","42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[19,516,64,66],"42wp_author":[4],"class_list":["post-3936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-andrea-kimi-antonelli","tag-laurent-mekies","tag-max-verstappen","tag-red-bull","42wp_author-evelyn-guimaraes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3936"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3936\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3937,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3936\/revisions\/3937"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020318105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3936"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=3936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}