Verstappen reveals what Red Bull should have done better to fight for the titles

Hot on the heels of his dominant victory on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, reining champion Max Verstappen has revealed what Red Bull should have done better to fight for the titles this season.

Having secured second place on the grid, Max Verstappen picked off Norris into Turn 1 on the opening lap as the McLaren driver slightly outbraked himself.

Thereafter, the Dutchman managed the race superbly. He absorbed all the pressure Russell threw at him in the opening stages of the race, and managed to build up a bit of a margin from the chasing pack.

Although Red Bull left Verstappen out for longer than his rival during the first stint, the Dutchman had slightly fresher tyres for the second stint which allowed him to escape from the duo of Russell and Norris again.

While Verstappen cruised to his sixth Grand Prix win of the season at Las Vegas, his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda endured another tough race.

The Japanese driver opted to start from the pit lane after his difficult qualifying session. He pitted early to switch from the mediums to the hard tyre, but had to stop a second time and that dropped him back down the order.

Asked whether his move at Turn 1 which saw him take over the lead from pole-sitter Lando Norris turned out to be a race-deciding manoeuvre, Verstappen said: "Well, I mean, it helped, of course, to get into the lead in Turn 1.

"I do think in the first stint, we were all finding our feet a bit with how much to push or not, how much we had to manage, because I do think we were all quite close up until the pit stops.

"So we were just trying to get a good balance, because we didn't really get to have a good understanding on Thursday. But yeah, it felt better than expected, I would say, already on that compound.

"And then, when we got onto the hard compound, I think already because we did quite a decent first stint, it made the second stint a little bit easier.

"But even there, you have to also make sure that you don't overcook it with the tyre. But yeah, we did well. Good communication with the pit wall as well. So yeah, actually very enjoyable, very nice, relaxed. So it was great."

Pushed on to reveal whether Red Bull will be able to get involved in the fight for the victories in the closing two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Verstappen refused to offer a clear answer, but he praised his team's progress since the start of the season instead.

"Well, we have been more consistent on the podium, let's say like that. Some races we've not been in contention for the win, but from, I would say, the middle of '24 until the middle of '25, we were more probably off the podium than on.

"And now, at least, we are always fighting for a second or a third place, but at least on the podium, and that's already, for us, I think a very good step forward.

"I think that should have been the case from the start, of course, if you want to really fight for a title. But yeah, unfortunately, we didn't get it right in the beginning, but at least now it's more consistent and sometimes, yeah, it's good enough then to win.