Verstappen Calls 2025 His Strongest F1 Season Despite Championship Loss
Max Verstappen insists his 2025 campaign was his finest in F1 despite losing the title by 2 points to Lando Norris. The Red Bull driver highlighted his ability to extract maximum performance from an inconsistent car and lead a dramatic 102-point championship comeback during the season's final stretch.
Max Verstappen has declared 2025 his strongest Formula 1 season to date, even after narrowly missing the world championship by two points to Lando Norris. The Dutch driver credits his ability to maximize performance from Red Bull's unpredictable RB21 while spearheading a remarkable late-season charge that erased a 104-point deficit.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's assessment reveals a psychological shift from frustration to confidence that could define Red Bull's 2026 resurgence. His capacity to deliver peak performances amid mechanical inconsistency and team turbulence demonstrates championship-caliber resilience—proving title-winning form isn't solely measured by trophies.
The Details:
- Red Bull endured a disastrous first half with Verstappen managing just one win (Japan) before August, leaving him 104 points behind Oscar Piastri amid leadership changes following Christian Horner's departure.
- A dramatic turnaround began at Monza, where Verstappen secured victory and initiated an eight-race streak of dominance that nearly overturned Norris' championship lead.
- Car Management: "I've hated this car at times, but loved it at times," Verstappen admitted, highlighting his adaptability to the RB21's unpredictable downforce levels and tire degradation.
- Team Dynamics: Leadership transition to Laurent Mekies initially raised concerns, but Verstappen praised the "great atmosphere" and "positive energy" during the comeback phase.
- Championship Math: Norris needed only a podium in Abu Dhabi to clinch the title—the Dutch driver's 102-point swing over the final nine races represents F1's second-largest late-season deficit recovery in history.
What's next:
Verstappen enters 2026 with renewed momentum as Red Bull transitions to Ford-powered engines under new technical regulations. The Dutchman's proven ability to extract performance from suboptimal machinery becomes critical as the team navigates its first fully in-house power unit campaign since 2018.
- Red Bull's engineering focus shifts to integrating Ford's hybrid system while maintaining the chassis excellence that enabled their late-2025 surge.
- Verstappen's psychological edge—having overcome both mechanical limitations and team instability—positions him as the early favorite despite McLaren's championship momentum.
- The 2026 season will test whether Verstappen's self-assessment holds true: can he replicate this season's adaptive brilliance with a potentially more competitive—but unproven—Ford power unit?