Bernie Ecclestone's Christmas Card Praises Verstappen, Takes Aim at Red Bull

In his annual handwritten Christmas card, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has delivered a pointed, satirical snapshot of the 2025 season, reserving his highest praise for Max Verstappen while skewering the internal politics at Red Bull. The 95-year-old legend declared Verstappen the best driver he can remember, placing him above all other champions he has witnessed in the sport's 75-year history.

Why it matters:

Ecclestone's cards are a tradition that offers a unique, unfiltered perspective from the man who shaped modern Formula 1. His endorsement of Verstappen's talent carries significant weight, coming from someone who has seen every great champion from Fangio to Hamilton. Simultaneously, his caricature of Red Bull's power struggles highlights the ongoing drama that has defined the team's recent era, proving that even in retirement, Ecclestone remains acutely tuned into the sport's political undercurrents.

The details:

• The card's front features a satirical drawing of the Red Bull power structure, with Oliver Mintzlaff and Helmut Marko firing a cannon that catapults Christian Horner out—though he lands softly on a pile of cash, a clear nod to his lucrative exit settlement.
• Ecclestone's written message lauds Verstappen's "comeback chase" and calls him "the best Formula 1 driver I can remember."
• He offers brief, typically sharp comments on other teams: McLaren has "returned to its old habits under Zak," Toto Wolff is "just waking up," and Lewis Hamilton is "suffering a bit from an uncompetitive car."
• The card also includes a characteristically provocative political aside, offering backhanded praise to Donald Trump for "running the world without competition."

The big picture:

Ecclestone's blend of humor, nostalgia, and pointed observation underscores his enduring role as F1's most candid elder statesman. His card serves as a time capsule for the 2025 season, capturing Verstappen's driving supremacy and Red Bull's internal chaos with equal clarity. It reinforces the narrative that while drivers like Verstappen define an era on track, the sport's off-track political and personal battles remain a constant, captivating spectacle. Ecclestone's unique voice continues to connect the sport's storied past with its tumultuous present.