Max Verstappen seeks race wins as Red Bull works on car speed

Max Verstappen has expressed his desire to secure a race victory this season rather than merely competing for podium finishes. Speaking in Baku, the four-time world champion noted that while Red Bull's car has shown improvement in recent weekends, it has not yet reached the necessary speed to consistently win. He highlighted that the team has focused on maximizing results through strategy despite often being the fourth fastest in terms of raw race pace.

Verstappen also commented on Red Bull's decision to extend the contract of Isack Hadjar, stating that the driver deserved the extension following a strong performance after his rookie year.

Former Formula 1 driver Marc Surer praised Verstappen's unique ability to manage high-speed risks. Surer noted that Verstappen excels on fast circuits where drivers must maintain extreme confidence and late braking points to remain competitive, suggesting that his courage to push the car to its limits distinguishes him from his rivals.