Wolff braced for 'full-on fight' amid Verstappen resurgence — SkimNews
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- Toto Wolff said Red Bull and Max Verstappen will be central to a "full-on fight" at the front of F1 into 2027, praising how the team developed their car around Verstappen after a slow start to the new regulation era.
- Max Verstappen has won the last two races, including a dominant Singapore victory, prompting Wolff to call him "by far the quickest guy" and back-to-back quickest across Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
- Mercedes are closing on a world championship double after winning 8 of the first 10 races, but their win rate has slowed to 3 of the last 7 as Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull have all challenged them.
- Kimi Antonelli can clinch the drivers' title as early as this weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin if results go his way.
- Red Bull's recent form was unlocked by a significant aerodynamic upgrade at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which team boss Laurent Mekies confirmed was their final notable upgrade of 2026 as development focus shifts to the 2027 car.
- Red Bull's in-house power unit — the first in team history — is performing strongly according to Wolff, who said the ICE and energy recovery/deployment systems appear competitive.
Why it matters: Mercedes' early-season dominance of 8 wins from 10 races has eroded to a 3-from-7 clip, and Wolff's public acknowledgment that Verstappen is the benchmark driver sets up a genuine four-way constructors' fight for 2027 once Red Bull, who have already shifted development focus, bring their next car. Antonelli's title-clinching opportunity at Austin this weekend means Mercedes could lock up the drivers' crown even while Wolff is already conceding the competitive battle is shifting.
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