Red Bull still has car updates 'in reserve.'

      "The atmosphere within the team is currently very positive."

      Max Verstappen has reignited the battle for the Formula 1 world championship, cutting Oscar Piastri’s lead down to just 40 points after a commanding performance at the United States GP, which left Red Bull filled with confidence and McLaren noticeably unsettled. Since Zandvoort, Verstappen has regained 64 points, claiming four victories and showcasing a form that De Telegraaf described as evidence that "the 2025 Formula 1 season will reach an incredibly spectacular climax."

      "If someone had told me after Zandvoort that I'd be back in the fight now, I would have called you crazy," Verstappen said with a smile. "We’ve just figured out a good setup for the car. We recognized where we needed to improve its performance. Each weekend, we aim to achieve that—and it has been much clearer in the last few races."

      Verstappen’s win in Austin was again decisive, with his car transformed following the post-Horner period after months of prior difficulties. "For sure, the opportunity is there," Verstappen confessed. "We just need to keep delivering weekends like this until the end. We must be flawless to have a chance—attention to detail will be crucial."

      Dr. Helmut Marko of Red Bull expressed his delight with the turnaround. "The atmosphere within the team is really positive now," he shared with ORF. "It’s evident that McLaren is no longer as comfortable. Piastri had a challenging time today as well—I hope it continues that way. We more or less gave up during the summer. Looking back, that was a mistake. There are no more tracks coming up that favor McLaren as much. I believe we are quite evenly matched now—and ultimately, it’s Max who makes the difference."

      Verstappen’s speed—and Piastri’s waning composure—have changed the dynamics of the title race. "He’s enjoying pushing it to the limit now," noted Timo Glock from Sky Deutschland. "Piastri looks unsettled. It reminds me of Jenson Button in 2009—the pressure constricted him so much that he couldn’t drive freely. The confident style he showed earlier in the season seems to be gone."

      Marko also acknowledged that Red Bull had set a private points target for the weekend. "We’re still 55 behind," he said before Sunday’s race. "Internally, I calculated that we needed to gain 15 points here in Austin—and it looks like that might happen."

      Verstappen concurred that the championship race is now wide open. "I think it's thrilling, and I’m truly excited for the finale," he stated. "It’s very close now, and attention to detail will determine the outcome."

      Formula 1 now moves on to Mexico, where rain is expected. "That means it’s definitely Verstappen time!" Marko grinned, admitting that Red Bull still has another significant upgrade planned for the 2025 car. "We still have something in reserve. I’m not sure when it will arrive," the Austrian revealed.