Overview

• Verstappen rejected Helmut Marko’s belief that he can still win, bluntly noting that Marko “is not in the car.”
• Red Bull’s latest upgrade package, featuring a reprofiled front wing and bodywork tweaks, failed to fix the RB21’s core balance issues.
• He split the two McLarens to win the Spa sprint but then qualified fourth for the Belgian Grand Prix after suffering grip errors in Q3.
• His 68-point deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri and 59-point gap to teammate Lando Norris underscore McLaren’s season-long edge.
• With 12 races left and a maximum of 324 points on offer, Red Bull remains mathematically in contention but faces an uphill battle to close the performance gap.