Max Verstappen details Red Bull 'swinging left and right' after Baku brilliance

Max Verstappen has detailed how Red Bull's season has swung "left and right" following a brilliant victory in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion converted pole position into a comfortable win at the Baku City Circuit – his fourth victory of the season. 

It has drawn him to within 69 points of championship leader Oscar Piastri with seven races remaining, following a shock crash for the McLaren driver. 

Verstappen's season has been full of highs and lows, to the extent that he was over 100 points adrift of Piastri just two races ago. 

Red Bull's early year difficulties and the firing of Christian Horner saw 2025 become a campaign of preparation for 2026, but has suddenly become one where a title could be won. 

The Milton Keynes-based outfit's new floor introduced in Monza has transformed the RB21, allowing Verstappen to win back-to-back races.

For Verstappen, Red Bull has found performance at the perfect moment with seven races still remaining, with him having dominated in Baku.

"I think overall, just a great weekend for us," said Verstappen. "I think for sure, starting up front was key, especially in the beginning, just managing your tyres to go long. 

"But, yeah, overall, very happy with how the race was going. I could go very long in that first stint. The car was doing pretty much what I wanted it to do. Just how much you commit, to push around here, which is not always easy with the layout of the track, the wind as well. 

"It was quite tough with that. But, yeah, we just stayed out until basically everyone pitted. And then there were only a few laps left on the medium, clearing a few backmarkers, which took a bit of time. 

"But after that, just bringing it home. And for us, that’s another just great result. A bit unusual. This season has been really swinging left and right, but at least now two weekends in a row, it’s been going really well."

RB21 making huge progress

Verstappen has comfortably been the quickest driver across the past two grands prix, demonstrating the sort of dominance which has seen him cruise to recent world titles. 

While he still faces a huge points deficit to claim a fifth consecutive crown, the improved RB21 has given him the confidence to take the fight to McLaren.

Asked if Baku was the best the RB21 has felt, Verstappen answered: "I guess together with Monza. Yep. Monza has never really been a particularly strong track for us, so to do that, that was already a big plus.

"And I guess all in all for me here in Baku, it’s been alright, but never amazing — apart from maybe '21, '22, I guess.

"But the rest has always been a bit difficult. So, yeah, to have a weekend like this, it was very important."