Max Verstappen will seek to reboot his title defence and end an eight-race winless streak this weekend when he locks horns with title rival Lando Norris at the United States Grand Prix. Four weeks on from finishing second behind him in Singapore, Red Bull’s three-time world champion and series leader hopes recent upgrades to his car will be enough for him to reel in the McLaren driver and repeat his 2023 triumph at the Circuit of the Americas.

“The car felt better in Singapore,” said Verstappen. “It was already a good step for us in Baku and I think we are going in the right direction now, but it takes time. You can’t change something like this in one or two weeks.”

The Dutchman admitted that Red Bull struggled to match the speed of their main competitors, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull, during much of the mid-part of the 24-race season, but with six races remaining, three including additional sprints, he hopes his 52-point lead will be enough for him to hang on.

Verstappen has not won since the Spanish Grand Prix and Norris, despite some inconsistency, has beaten him in the last five races, igniting a late bid for the drivers’ title to add to McLaren’s takeover of the constructors’ championship.