Max Verstappen is approaching what could be his first winless season since Red Bull promoted him to their top team in 2016. The three-time world champion has never failed to win at least one grand prix per season over his ten years with Red Bull, but remains without a victory with eight rounds remaining in 2026.
Red Bull's performance has improved significantly since early season struggles, with Verstappen reaching the podium in five of the last six races after managing just two podiums in the first nine rounds. He and teammate Isack Hadjar both finished on the podium in Baku, marking Red Bull's best result of the season so far.
Verstappen acknowledged that Baku has historically been a strong circuit for Red Bull due to its unique characteristics with 90-degree corners and limited high-speed sections. The team views the remaining races as a crucial learning opportunity for next year's car development, as they are no longer fighting for the championship but can gather valuable data across different track types.