Red Bull Racing and its ace, Max Verstappen, signaled a resurgence by clinching back-to-back wins at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, his first consecutive victories in over a year. But what really triggered the team’s upward swing? Was it the newly modified Monza floor on the No. 1 Red Bull Honda?
Well, the driver himself has spoken out. Verstappen clarified that the performance boost isn’t just down to the upgraded floor. Instead, he credited more profound changes within the car’s setup and team approach, which he believes have unlocked Red Bull’s renewed edge ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
Beyond the Floor: Max Verstappen Reveals What’s Boosting Red Bull’s Performance
Boasting dominant wins at Monza and Baku, four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen firmly reasserts himself in the title hunt. While the Baku city circuit suited Red Bull’s setup perfectly, Singapore demands maximum wing angles, a configuration that presents its own challenges.
The 28-year-old will start from the front row in P2, just behind George Russell’s No. 63 Mercedes. Despite narrowly missing the pole, partly due to a brief moment of frustration with Lando Norris, Verstappen remained confident in his car and team’s race-day prospects.
Addressing the media during the pre-race Dutch presser, he affirmed that the bump in performance cannot be attributed solely to the new Monza flooring. Instead, the 28-year-old laid it out plain.
🚨 Max says Red Bull’s different approach is one of the key reasons behind their recent performance gains.
For example, the team can now find the right setup much more easily during Fridays, allowing them to fine-tune it better over the weekend
He also says they hadn’t unlocked… pic.twitter.com/pckETSeZiq
— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) October 5, 2025
“Well, everything helps, of course, but that’s not the whole reason,” he said, but when the reporter pressed on about the most significant contributor, he replied, “A different philosophy.” This signals a fresh approach that’s yielding results. In recent weeks, Red Bull has avoided the complete Friday-to-race overhauls that were common earlier this year.
Furthermore, he added, “Yes, now you can fine-tune more during a weekend. That’s the most important thing.” On paper, the RB21 has always been strong, but the problem has been Red Bull’s inability to consistently tap into its capabilities. Verstappen told Motorsport.com that this has indeed been the case.
He acknowledged that, with the insights Red Bull has gained in recent weeks, the team could have extracted more from its 2025 car earlier in the season. “At the start of the season, for sure – absolutely,” the champ admitted.
Armed with newfound confidence and a new winning philosophy, Verstappen looks ready to take the fight to McLaren. The question is: can he claim a fifth title?