A 'big surprise to be second' in the standings – Verstappen

Max Verstappen has expressed his surprise at climbing to second place in the 2026 Drivers' Championship following Red Bull's difficult start to the season. After enduring a winless streak for the first 16 rounds, the four-time World Champion praised the team for their relentless development and successful upgrades that sparked a major turnaround. Reflecting on his campaign, Verstappen highlighted his refusal to settle for lower finishes like sixth or seventh during the team's struggles, always pushing to extract maximum performance. He also addressed his notorious radio communications, explaining that his complaints about downshifts and settings are simply his way of driving the team to find every possible detail for extra lap time.