Max Verstappen Brushes Off Drivers' Championship Standings, Eyes 2027

Max Verstappen has made it clear that he's not losing sleep over his position in the Drivers' Championship this season. The Red Bull driver, currently trailing George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, is more interested in setting up the team for future success. "I don’t really care if I’m second or fifth," Verstappen said. "The only thing that we want to try and achieve is to be P3 in the Constructors’. That’s what I think the team wants, so that’s what we’ll try to do."

Despite some setbacks earlier this year, Red Bull has bounced back with Verstappen securing wins in Malaysia and Singapore. This resurgence has put him just six points behind Russell and five behind Hamilton. Meanwhile, Red Bull is tied with McLaren in the Constructors' standings.

Looking toward the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen is realistic about Red Bull's chances. His recent performance in Austin, where he finished third behind Charles Leclerc, revealed some areas needing improvement. "There were a few little issues that we found," he noted, "so it’s more about trying to learn from them."

The Dutchman has had significant success at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but he remains cautious about predicting another win. "It’s not the same track, so it’s a very different scenario," he explained. "A lot of little things contribute to lap time lost. If you fix that, you naturally pick up pace."

Verstappen emphasized the importance of getting the car in good shape for next year. "There are still a lot of things that we want to change," he said, "and I hope that it will bring the car a bit more together." Red Bull hasn't finished outside the top three in the Teams' Championship since 2015, and Verstappen wants to ensure they start the 2027 season on a solid footing.

With his focus clearly on the future, Verstappen's approach is as pragmatic as it is competitive. For now, it's all about laying the groundwork for a stronger 2027, even if that means letting the 2026 Drivers' Championship standings slide.