‘Extraordinary’ Verstappen powered Red Bull revival – Monaghan

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The Formula 1 season has been a rollercoaster for Red Bull, but their star driver, Max Verstappen, has proven to be the spark igniting a fiery comeback.

According to Red Bull’s chief engineer, Paul Monaghan, the Dutchman’s extraordinary contributions – both behind the wheel and in the garage – have been pivotal in turning the RB21 from a struggling mid-season contender into a worthy McLaren beating machine.

With just four races left, Verstappen’s resurgence has slashed a once-daunting 104-point deficit in the Drivers’ standings to a mere 36 gap with championship leader Lando Norris, putting a fifth consecutive world title within the Red Bull charger’s reach.

A Season of Struggles and Solutions

Coming out of the summer break, Red Bull was reeling. The RB21, an early season winner, was lagging far behind McLaren’s lightning-fast MCL39, leaving fans and pundits alike to question whether the bulls reign was over.

But since the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the Milton Keynes squad has roared back to life. Verstappen has clinched three victories in the last five races, showcasing the kind of blistering pace that has defined his career.

Monaghan, speaking to reporters in Mexico City recently, credited the Dutchman’s relentless drive and unique ability to rally the team.

“This year’s challenged him in a different way, I think, because we’ve not presented him with a car that was necessarily quick enough at all the events,” Monaghan said.

A Team Player Within the Champion

For Monaghan, what makes Verstappen truly special is not just his speed but his attitude when the chips are down.

“He was always of the view that the team is in it, therefore he’s in it, and he will help and contribute as much as he can to help pull us out of it,” Monaghan said.

“So, he’s an extraordinary driver, and that is in and out of the car.

“He’s one of those mercurial ones that can help pull the team together, not the sole part of it, he is a very big part of it, and it’s just nice that we’ve got him.”

That unity has helped transform Red Bull’s fortunes and place Verstappen back in the thick of the title race, reviving the belief within the team that a fifth consecutive crown is still on the table.

Engineering the Comeback

While Verstappen has been the figurehead of Red Bull’s resurgence, Monaghan emphasized that the turnaround has been a season-long grind by the entire team.

“I think there are many things that come together,” he said. “A lot of work went in, even from the very early races of this season, to try and give ourselves a better car.

“We thought we’d identified what was wrong, and it took us a couple of steps to really get to that, and not just take a load of downforce out of the car.

Red Bull Racing Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan with the media.

“So the combination of things as we arrived towards Monza was that the car has been a lot better.

“I wouldn’t have said it’s one thing in isolation. It’s not one or two set-up items. It’s not necessarily some bodywork geometries.

“Many things happened in the right order. We might be disappointed with the timing of them. That’s life.”

As the F1 field heads to the final races of 2025, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can complete the most remarkable comeback in the history of the sport.

For now, Red Bull’s chief engineer and his team are savoring the ride, knowing they have an “extraordinary” talent leading the charge.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.