But Max\u2019s attention has snapped back to F1 during this double-header as he performed before his home crowd at the penultimate Dutch GP, then enjoyed a boost to his RB21 with an upgrade package which included a new floor and front wing. And both team and driver feel the uplift will not be limited to Monza; the upgrade package was not track-specific.<\/p>\n
\u201cBaku, the fast circuits, I’m very optimistic,\u201d Red Bull driver advisor Helmut Marko told Autosport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope for Singapore, the only race we haven\u2019t won so far. Normally on slow circuits [recent Red Bulls have underperformed]… but I believe now everything is possible in this period.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax is motivated like I haven’t seen him for a long time. So he is even not talking about GT.\u201d<\/p>\n
That’s what Helmut thinks, but it has emerged that Verstappen will race in two VLN events this month, one this coming weekend at the Nurburgring and another two weeks later, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix. <\/p>\n
It was important for Red Bull\u2019s relationship with its star asset that it was seen to do something at the Italian Grand Prix, which was a particular low point last season. There, Verstappen laboured to sixth place and thundered afterwards, \u201cIn 2023 we still had the most dominant car, but we have turned it into a monster.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757382068_69_max-verstappen-red-bull-racing.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n
Photo by: Mario Renzi – Formula 1 – Getty Images<\/p>\n
Not only did Red Bull bring an update package to Monza, its engineers let Verstappen have his own way after a debate about downforce levels. Max got what he wanted in terms of less aggressive wing levels, hence his message to the engineers over the radio on the cool-down lap after beating the previously dominant McLarens by nearly 20s.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, the driver is… the engineers are listening more to the driver,\u201d said Marko.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have such a fast and experienced driver, I think that’s the right way. He has to drive it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it was important that our top speed is improving. We saw we could drive away from the McLarens. And also some other changes. The driver’s input was recognised.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole technical team is more open and they discuss things. And they are not blindly taking what the simulation says.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood that the development focus has been on driveability and predictability rather than outright performance, making the car less skittish. Marko also alluded to new team principal Laurent Mekies coming from a race-engineering background, and bringing not just a different approach to preparation than his predecessor, but also a greater willingness to lean on driver experience and feel than simulation data when the two conflict.<\/p>\n
So for now Verstappen is back in love with F1 again. Whether involvement of some form in other series is entirely off the menu is another matter. Outlets including the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, which is essentially the Verstappen family\u2019s personal mouthpiece, have reported Max is interested in buying a MotoGP team, most likely a manufacturer-aligned satellite outfit such as Trackhouse or LCR.<\/p>\n