"Things are becoming complicated for McLaren now."

      It seems like things could be looking up for Verstappen.

      Max Verstappen's resurgence towards the end of the season gained traction in Austin, where both McLaren drivers were eliminated in the first lap of the sprint race—giving Red Bull a vital psychological advantage ahead of the grand prix on Sunday. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were taken out at Turn 1 due to a chain reaction that involved Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso. Initially, McLaren executives Zak Brown and Andrea Stella pointed fingers at the Sauber driver, labeling him "amateurish," only to later retract their statement.

      "The McLarens might have overlooked the presence of other cars in the race," Hulkenberg remarked to Canal Plus. Championship leader Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, concurred, calling the incident "a typical start accident." "Alonso was on the inside, and Nico reacted to avoid colliding with him, while Oscar positioned himself to overtake Lando on the inside," Webber clarified. "He was ahead, so he was entitled to that position. In my view, there’s no main culprit."

      The double retirements capped a dismal sprint day for McLaren, during which Verstappen excelled while Piastri struggled for speed throughout the weekend. "Norris is well-placed," Sky Deutschland analyst Timo Glock noted after the primary qualifying. "But what's going on with Oscar Piastri? The gap between the two McLarens has suddenly widened.

      "He’s consistently slower across the entire lap—either he’s not in tune with the tyres and the car, or it’s a mental issue. The one benefitting is Max Verstappen, and it seems like McLaren is heading in the wrong direction." Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko emphasized the necessity of capitalizing on their advantage. "We need to keep winning now," he stated. "There are still a few races with thrilling first corners. We have nothing to lose. You can see that Piastri is making mistakes—great! We’ll see how this incident impacts McLaren’s confidence.

      "Max is experiencing one high after another," the 82-year-old beamed. Mercedes chief Toto Wolff acknowledged the changing dynamics in the title race. "Things are getting tense now," he said concerning McLaren’s plight. "Max is getting closer and closer.

      "At some point, McLaren will have to decide on a primary driver." Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa shared with DAZN that the four-time world champion’s mindset has become a significant factor. "He (Verstappen) has nothing to lose," de la Rosa noted. "There’s no better feeling than seeing yourself out of the race and then catching sight of the goal once more. There are plenty of points still to grab, and the trend points toward a comeback." Marko mentioned that with a gap of "still 55 points" to Piastri, he aimed for "15 points to make up here in Austin—and it seems like it might work out."

      Verstappen himself remains cautious. "It’s not about believing in it," he told reporters. "I take it race by race. "Today was ideal for me, bringing me closer, which is nice for everyone—maybe not for them," he smiled. "However, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with my pace in the race. If we want to win tomorrow, we need to improve. That’s where my focus will be."