Verstappen Chases McLaren Amid Red Bull, Newey Shifts

Adrian Newey, the acclaimed Formula 1 car designer, has left Red Bull to join Aston Martin ahead of the major 2026 regulation changes, signaling a significant shift in the competitive landscape. The 2025 Formula 1 season has become highly competitive, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris winning five of the first seven races. Despite Red Bull's recent struggles, Max Verstappen remains just 22 points behind Piastri in the championship, thanks in part to a strategic turnaround at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix led by Verstappen and his engineers. Upgrades at Imola improved Red Bull's tire management, enabling Verstappen to secure a critical win and close the points gap. Verstappen also admitted to overreaching with setup changes during Monaco practice, highlighting the ongoing development battle. With new technical regulations on the horizon and a fierce contest between Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri, the title race is set to be unpredictable.