Verstappen calls second in standings a 'big surprise' after Red Bull's difficult start

Max Verstappen says it is a "big surprise" to be second in the drivers' standings, given Red Bull's challenging start to the 2026 season. He said the team had struggled early on, with the car not where they wanted it to be, and that they also had to learn a lot about the power unit.

Verstappen praised the team for never giving up, noting that it took five rounds for him to reach the podium and 16 events to return to winning ways. Since the summer break, his consistency has moved him up to second, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton. He credited Red Bull's development push and upgrades, which he said he could not have foreseen earlier in the year.

He also mentioned ongoing issues with radio communication and downshifts in recent race weekends, saying the radio had been better in Mexico.