Oscar Piastri Senses Subtle Red Bull Enhancements to Verstappen's Car

Oscar Piastri, ever the observant competitor, has a theory about the recent uptick in Red Bull's performance. While the team appeared to be on the back foot for much of the season, the Australian driver believes they've made some subtle yet significant changes to Max Verstappen's car. After securing second place in both Madrid and Azerbaijan, Verstappen clinched Red Bull's first victory of the season in Malaysia—an achievement that came after a ten-month dry spell since his last win in Abu Dhabi. This victory also allowed Verstappen to equal Michael Schumacher's record of 72 wins with a single team.

Piastri, speaking to Auto Action, noted that Red Bull's updates might have flown under the radar, particularly during the Baku race. "I think whatever Red Bull put on their car in Baku was significant," Piastri said, referencing Verstappen's qualifying position and engine issues that weekend. He speculated that had Verstappen started from the front, he would have posed a considerable challenge to George Russell throughout the race.

In Malaysia, Verstappen showed that Red Bull had the fastest car-driver combination on the track. Piastri acknowledged this, mentioning that while Ferrari and his own team have seen progress, Red Bull now seems to be challenging Mercedes' dominance.

Looking ahead, Piastri predicts that Red Bull will be a formidable contender in the 2027 season, possibly setting the stage for a thrilling battle between Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. As for Piastri's own future, there's speculation he might end up at Red Bull, though that depends on the performance of current Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar.

In the meantime, fans and pundits alike will be watching to see if Verstappen can surpass Lewis Hamilton's record for the most wins with a single team, a feat that seems increasingly within reach given Red Bull's recent form.