Max Verstappen’s astonishing performance at the United States Grand Prix has sent shockwaves through the racing community, with his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo showering him with praise and perhaps a hint of envy. As Verstappen clinched his third victory in just four races, leading from start to finish, it seemed he was already dreaming of his post-race dinner—likely a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak, as Ricciardo humorously pointed out.
The Red Bull superstar didn’t just win; he dominated the track, securing maximum points after also triumphing in the Sprint event the day prior. With a staggering 33 points amassed over the weekend, Verstappen has narrowed the championship gap to just 40 points behind leader Oscar Piastri, who could only manage a meager 10 points. Meanwhile, Lando Norris sits just 26 points ahead of Verstappen, making the title race more electrifying than ever.
Laurent Mekies, Verstappen’s team principal, hailed the driver’s performance as “history in the making.” He remarked, “Watching Max drive is truly witnessing a historic moment. He consistently surprises us with his capabilities on the track, pushing the limits more than we ever anticipate.” This sentiment was echoed by McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who admitted, “Congratulations to Max, he was fast as always… Max is a great driver. Now we have to try to break their momentum somehow.”
Former teammate Ricciardo, who raced alongside Verstappen from 2016 to 2018, couldn’t hide his admiration. In a light-hearted WhatsApp exchange with fans, he declared, “Max is ridiculous. Kid’s so good. Yes, I am stating the obvious now.” Ricciardo’s quip about Verstappen contemplating his dinner order while crushing the competition encapsulates the dominance the Dutchman displayed in Austin.
But the intrigue doesn’t stop there. Ricciardo is also keenly watching Verstappen’s current teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who, despite not matching Verstappen’s prowess, demonstrated significant improvement by securing his first double points haul as a Red Bull driver, finishing seventh in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Ricciardo noted, “Two days in a row he’s come through nicely,” indicating that Tsunoda is on an upward trajectory.
As the excitement builds, the racing world is left to ponder Tsunoda’s future, with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko indicating that decisions regarding next season’s driver lineup will be made after the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. Will Verstappen continue his relentless pursuit of a fifth consecutive World Championship? One thing is for sure: the stakes have never been higher, and the battle for supremacy in Formula 1 is gearing up to be a thrilling spectacle.
