Verstappen Credits Fans and Team for 'Never Give Up' 2025 Fight
Despite a 104-point deficit, Max Verstappen nearly clinched the 2025 title, losing to Lando Norris by two points. He thanked loyal fans for their support during the team's tough season and remarkable comeback.
After a stunning comeback from a massive 104-point deficit, Max Verstappen narrowly missed his fifth consecutive F1 title, finishing just two points behind Lando Norris. The Dutchman took to the 'Talking Bull' podcast to thank the team and their loyal fans for sticking together during a 'very tough season' and 'never giving up'.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's message highlights the resilience of a team accustomed to dominance but facing a genuine, season-long challenge. The narrow defeat underscores the intensity of the 2025 title fight and sets a dramatic precedent for the 2026 season, where Red Bull will tackle its biggest technical challenge yet: building its own power unit.
The details:
- Verstappen trailed the championship leader by a staggering 104 points at one stage, making his late-season charge to within two points of Norris a remarkable feat.
- On the team's podcast, he emphasized the collective effort: 'I'm very proud of how we, here at the factory and our fans of course as well, kept it together.'
- The season ends as Red Bull pivots to a monumental 2026 challenge: developing its own in-house power unit in collaboration with Ford, with the new car set to be revealed on January 15 in Detroit.
What's next:
All eyes will be on Red Bull's 2026 campaign. The team's ambitious project to build its own engine with Ford represents a massive technical and financial gamble. Their performance will determine if they can immediately return to title contention or if the 2025 season was the beginning of a more competitive era in F1.