Jos Verstappen reveals a fascinating insight into Max Verstappen’s ‘brain’ after Italian Grand Prix win

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Max Verstappen could be set to throw a spanner in the works of McLaren’s intense Formula 1 title fight in 2025.

He dominated the Italian Grand Prix and reminded everyone of just how good Red Bull have the potential to be when their car is in the right window. For 18 months, their development has been headed in a poor direction, and it seems as though they might have just turned the tide.

It means that Verstappen, who should always be considered a title contender heading into a new season anyway, should now enter the 2026 F1 regulations as a true threat again. A fifth title in six years under three separate rulesets would be seriously impressive.

Following the recent changes, Laurent Mekies will love how Verstappen is feeling about their project in recent weeks. Not only does he look revitalised, but Red Bull might have changed their minds about certain personnel in the team. They might be back on track.

READ MORE: Red Bull’s ‘extreme’ weakness with 2025 F1 car fixed as Max Verstappen claims all-time F1 record

Jos Verstappen claims Max Verstappen has a ‘brain’ like an engineer after Red Bull’s Italian Grand Prix win

After the arrival of Mekies as team boss, Verstappen is benefiting from a ‘common sense’ change at Red Bull, which has improved their operation. Now 94 points behind in the standings a comeback would be the greatest in the history of the sport.

However, there’s evidence to suggest that the track may have suited them more than others, such as Singapore, where they might run into trouble. Verstappen’s Monza onboard showed why he’s no longer dominant, and it’s what will hold him back for the rest of 2025.

One thing that doesn’t hold him back is his brain. Father Jos recently told BBC’s Matt Majendie that he practically has the mind of an engineer, due to how long he has been racing for now.

“That involved a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. Negotiations between Pierre Wache and the other engineers, and Max Verstappen,” he said. “It seems that Laurent Mekies gave Verstappen more say in this, as a driver, than in the past, the difference is that he had that much more input, and why shouldn’t he?

“He’s the guy that has got a natural feel for the car, he’s the person in it. He’s not an engineer, although interesting, his dad said to me he pretty much has an engineering brain because he’s been learning this from such a young age.”

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How the summer break helped Max Verstappen end one of his worst spells as a Red Bull driver

Heading into the summer break, Verstappen had matched his worst run of Red Bull form since the start of the 2018 season, when their engines were still supplied by Renault. They appeared to have no answers for their barren run of form.

Jos wasn’t very happy with what he saw from Max earlier on in the campaign, as he threw away a potential podium in Spain. Since then, he has been more measured, calculated, and level-headed on the track, despite his team’s struggles.

The summer shutdown normally lasts two weeks, which means that Red Bull worked incredibly hard one week either side of the break to bring improvements, and they clearly worked. The signs are good for the team who were dominating as recently as 2023.