Sky Sports F1 Pundit Ted Kravitz revealed that Max Verstappen played a key role in rising competitive Red Bull at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Weekend.
McLaren dominated practice on Friday, leading a 1-2 finish in both sessions.
Verstappen ruled out the challenge for the victory, pointing out that McLaren overtook him during the race simulation.
Verstappen and Red Bull came back to life on Saturday after a major change overnight.
The real world champion missed pole slightly and secured second on the grid.
Verstappen then won the race, making it a comfortable afternoon for Red Bull in his 400th F1 race.
After his race at his “notebook” show, Kravitz described the role Verstappen and his engineers played by turning the weekend around.
“I asked the Red Bull press and who did I say I did it? Was it the simulator guy? Was it Rudy van Buren or who it was,” Kravitz said.
“I think he’s doing Formula E in Japan, so it wasn’t Sebastian Buemi. Who turned this car around?
“Then Max said after the race, when he said ‘Grande Max’ and said, ‘Yes, it was a very strong Saturday and Sunday.’
“Please praise them for coming here with a car that was a McLaren Beater on a Friday night.”
Verstappen Return to F1 title conflict
Verstappen’s second victory in the 2025 Formula 1 season brought him back to title competition.
After seven rounds, he is 22 points behind Oscar Piastri in the driver’s championship.
Only Piastri, who won more races than Verstappen this year.
Red Bull hopes that Flexi-Wing’s clampdown will have a major impact on the championship.
The FIA will place strict testing on the front wings of Spanish Grand Prix teams that could impact McLaren.
Verstappen is about to win this year’s fifth straight driver title. Only Michael Schumacher achieved it before.