Verstappen Snaps at Journalist Over Russell Question After Narrow Title Loss
Max Verstappen dismissed regrets about his 2025 title loss despite a fiery press conference moment when questioned on his Barcelona clash with George Russell. The four-time champ insists he feels stronger now than after his 2024 championship win, crediting his dramatic second-half resurgence despite Red Bull's early-season struggles.
Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but lost the 2025 drivers' title by two points to Lando Norris. Moments after the race, the four-time world champion delivered a tense, visibly irritated response when asked if he regretted his controversial Spanish Grand Prix collision with George Russell—a moment that became the focal point of his narrow championship defeat.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's sharp reaction reveals his confidence despite the heartbreaking loss. His insistence that he feels "better now than after last year's title" signals psychological resilience heading into 2026—a critical mindset as Red Bull aims to fix its early-season car deficiencies. The outburst also underscores how painfully Verstappen views media fixation on isolated incidents rather than his 10-race podium streak that nearly overturned a 100-point deficit.
The Details:
- Verstappen stared silently at the journalist for several seconds before snapping: "You forget all the other stuff... the only thing you mention is Barcelona. I knew that would come."
- He escalated the tension by calling out the reporter's expression: "You’re giving me a stupid grin now," before adding "You live and learn"—a pointed reference to McLaren's "wastefulness" with their faster car.
- Title Context: Norris clinched the crown by finishing third in Abu Dhabi despite Verstappen's win, capitalizing on McLaren's superior pace for much of the season. Verstappen still secured more wins (9) and podiums (15) than in his 2024 championship year.
- Comeback Narrative: After languishing 100+ points behind Oscar Piastri following Zandvoort, Verstappen mounted a stunning charge—scoring podiums in 10 straight races with six wins—to nearly erase McLaren's advantage.
- Mindset Shift: "I'm sitting here with probably a better feeling than last year," Verstappen stated, acknowledging mid-season struggles but emphasizing his renewed confidence: "I'm not in a state of having to worry about my skills."
What's next:
Verstappen's combative press conference sets the tone for Red Bull's 2026 reset. With Christian Horner's mid-season removal already shaking the team's leadership, the focus now shifts to whether Adrian Newey's successor can deliver a car capable of sustaining Verstappen's relentless pace over a full season. His assertion that he'd have "won the title much earlier with McLaren" suggests he views Red Bull's 2025 car as the limiting factor—a challenge chief technical officer Pierre Waché must address. As Verstappen enters his fifth consecutive title tilt, his unshaken self-belief could prove as vital as any chassis upgrade in the battle against McLaren's established momentum.