Verstappen's Title Bid Falls Short Amid Red Bull's Turbulent 2025
Max Verstappen narrowly lost the 2025 F1 title by two points despite a heroic comeback, as Red Bull's season was marred by car issues, driver struggles, and leadership changes, setting the stage for a critical 2026 overhaul.
Max Verstappen mounted one of the most remarkable championship comebacks in F1 history, but fell just two points short of Lando Norris in a dramatic 2025 season finale. His individual brilliance masked a deeply turbulent year for Red Bull, which saw the team slip to third in the Constructors' Championship amid significant leadership changes and persistent car problems. The Dutchman's campaign is being hailed as his finest ever, but it wasn't enough to overcome the team's fundamental issues.
Why it matters:
This season represents a critical inflection point for Red Bull. After years of dominance, the team is now in a rebuilding phase, embarking on its most ambitious technical project yet: building its own power unit in partnership with Ford for the 2026 regulations. The struggles of 2025, combined with the leadership overhaul, put immense pressure on the team to get this next chapter right or risk falling further behind the competition.
The details:
- Verstappen's Masterclass: The Dutchman won eight races and overturned a 104-point mid-season deficit to take the title fight to the final round, showcasing his ability to extract maximum performance from a flawed car.
- A Glaring Team Weakness: Yuki Tsunoda's promotion to the senior team proved challenging. He was eliminated in Q1 ten times and scored only 33 points, compared to Verstappen's 385, highlighting a massive performance gap that cost Red Bull dearly in the constructors' standings.
- The RB21's Flaw: The car suffered from chronic understeer and a disconnected front-to-rear balance, a problem that plagued the team since mid-2023 and was never fully resolved, limiting its ability to consistently challenge McLaren.
- Leadership Overhaul: The season saw Christian Horner sacked after Silverstone, replaced by Laurent Mekies, while advisor Helmut Marko also departed, marking the end of an era for the team's leadership structure.
What's next:
Red Bull faces a monumental transition in 2026, building its own power unit with Ford for the first time. This technical revolution coincides with a new driver lineup, as Isack Hadjar partners Verstappen. Team principal Laurent Mekies has tempered expectations, warning of "very tough months" as they navigate the complexities of being a new manufacturer against established powerhouses. The success of this ambitious project will determine if Red Bull can return to the front of the grid or face a prolonged period in the wilderness.