The United States Grand Prix is set to intensify the battle for third place in the Constructors' Championship, with Red Bull Racing closing in on McLaren. Just seven points separate the two teams heading into Austin, setting the stage for a crucial showdown as the season approaches its conclusion.
Key Points:
- Red Bull Racing trails McLaren by just 7 points heading into Austin.
- A maximum of 43 points is available at the United States Grand Prix.
- Red Bull must outscore McLaren by at least 8 points to claim third place.
- The fight features Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
High Stakes in Austin: Red Bull's Pursuit of P3
The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) will host a pivotal chapter in the Constructors' Championship battle as Red Bull Racing looks to close the gap on McLaren. Buoyed by Max Verstappen's impressive form and a newly potent Ford-backed power unit, Red Bull has put pressure on its Woking rivals, with the seven-point deficit leaving little room for error.
Following commanding victories in Sepang and Singapore, Red Bull has significantly outscored McLaren in recent rounds. That scoring surge has transformed what was once a comfortable advantage for McLaren into a much tighter contest, making the United States Grand Prix a crucial opportunity for both teams.
Breaking Down the Numbers: How Red Bull Can Take P3
With no Sprint race in Austin, the points available from the main Grand Prix will be decisive. Red Bull must gain at least eight points on McLaren to move ahead in the standings. A seven-point swing would leave the teams level, with the tie-breaker determined by race wins. Both teams currently have two.
Verstappen's Winning Scenario
If Max Verstappen takes victory and collects 25 points, attention will turn to teammate Isack Hadjar and McLaren's results. Should Hadjar fail to score, McLaren must score 17 points or fewer for Red Bull to move into third.
For example, if Lando Norris finishes third and Oscar Piastri takes ninth, Red Bull would move ahead by one point. However, if one McLaren driver finishes second while the other fails to score, the two teams would finish the weekend level on points.
Every Position Could Make the Difference
If Verstappen finishes second and Hadjar scores no points, McLaren can collect no more than 10 points to avoid falling behind. That could allow one McLaren driver to finish fifth, provided the other finishes outside the top 10.
A third-place finish for Verstappen would leave McLaren with an even narrower points allowance of 7 points. Under this scenario, seventh and 10th-place finishes for Norris and Piastri would give McLaren seven points.
Crucially, any points scored by Isack Hadjar would increase the pressure on McLaren. If Verstappen wins and Hadjar finishes fifth, Red Bull would collect 35 points. Even if Norris finishes second and Piastri takes sixth, giving McLaren a combined 26 points, Red Bull would still move ahead in the standings.
McLaren's Perspective: Calm Amidst the Storm?
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella remains calm about Red Bull's recent performance surge, describing the back-and-forth battle between the two teams as a seasonal game of “ping-pong”. Stella believes Max Verstappen and Red Bull are benefiting from their latest upgrades, noting that a development package can be worth around three-tenths of a second per lap.
However, McLaren's own comments suggest the team still has challenges to overcome. Lando Norris has described the MCL40 as “mentally exhausting” to drive, while Stella has acknowledged that its underlying issues are unlikely to be resolved before the team's 2027 car arrives.
Meanwhile, Verstappen is keeping his expectations in check ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The Red Bull driver stopped short of declaring himself a championship contender but admitted that his recent weekends had gone well, stressing that he intends to approach the remaining races one at a time.
