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How Red Bull Can Overtake at the United States Grand Prix
Highlights
- Red Bull trails McLaren by seven points in constructors’ standings.
- 43 points available at US Grand Prix in Austin this weekend.
- Verstappen’s recent wins reduced gap significantly to just seven points.
- Red Bull must outscore McLaren by eight points to claim third.
- McLaren’s Andrea Stella expects improvements but no major 2024 upgrades.
- Race outcome hinges on strong Red Bull finishes and McLaren scoring limits.
Red Bull arrives in Austin seven points behind McLaren for the constructors’ fight. With 43 points available, third place is realistically in play this weekend.
Max Verstappen’s Malaysia and Singapore wins, in a Ford-powered Red Bull, compressed the gap. McLaren has 339 after 17 races, with Red Bull on 332.
Austin has no Sprint, capping the weekend at 43 points. Red Bull must outscore McLaren by eight to seize third, as outlined in the 2026 F1 USGP schedule.
If Verstappen wins and Isack Hadjar fails to score, McLaren can collect no more than 17 points for Red Bull to end Sunday ahead.
Red Bull must outscore McLaren by eight points to take third in Austin.
One scenario: Lando Norris finishes third and Oscar Piastri ninth. That combination edges Red Bull ahead by a single point.
If McLaren finishes second with its other car outside the points, the teams tie on points and wins. Best individual results would then decide third.
Should Verstappen finish second with Hadjar non-scoring, McLaren’s cap is 10. That equals a lone fifth for one car, with no support from the other.
A Verstappen third lowers McLaren’s limit to seven. If both McLarens fail to score, eight Red Bull points suffice, even via a single sixth place.
No Sprint in Austin means only 43 points are on offer.
Every Hadjar point raises McLaren’s allowance by one. A Verstappen win with Hadjar fifth totals 35, forcing McLaren to finish second and sixth to stay ahead.
McLaren principal Andrea Stella stays composed, calling recent form a ping‑pong match. He accepts Red Bull’s gains and says marginal performance remains available.
He expects only modest 2024 steps, with major shifts unlikely before the 2027 car. Stella even suggests up to three‑tenths could be found through refinement.
Norris says the current McLaren is mentally exhausting to drive.
Lando Norris describes the package as mentally exhausting, highlighting the MCL40’s narrow window. That mirrors McLaren’s own analysis and update plan.
The context is a team that faces pressure as Red Bull closes in, yet trusts its direction under the budget cap.
Red Bull’s resource strategy also matters in the budget‑cap era, shaping upgrade timing and scope across projects.
Verstappen resists declaring an advantage, focusing on execution and clean weekends. Austin’s bumps, temperatures, and tyre management can still swing relative performance.
The battle for third hinges on Verstappen converting form and Hadjar contributing. Limiting McLaren’s scoring remains decisive as the season enters its critical phase.
Visual Summary
🏎️
MCLAREN
339 pts
🏁
RED BULL
332 pts
🏴☠️
Points Gap
7
Points Available
43
What Needs to Happen in Austin?
Verstappen wins, Hadjar 0 pts → McLaren must score ≤17 to keep 3rd ⛰️
Verstappen 2nd, Hadjar 0 pts → McLaren max 10
Verstappen 3rd → McLaren max 7
If both McLarens fail to score → Red Bull needs just 8 pts
Verstappen wins, Hadjar 5th → McLaren must be 2nd & 6th to stay ahead
Tension Before Austin
🔥
Every point counts. Red Bull surges, McLaren clings on. Austin decides.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
