Max Verstappen Reflects on a Rollercoaster Season
Max Verstappen has admitted to having a love/hate relationship with this year’s Red Bull car, but finished the season feeling more positive about his performances than he did last year when he won the title. Despite missing out on the title by two points to McLaren’s Lando Norris at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen won one more race over the course of the season than the new world champion.
Red Bull struggled for performance in the first half of the season, leaving Verstappen 104 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri following the Dutch Grand Prix. However, the team made significant gains with upgrades from the Italian Grand Prix onwards, allowing Verstappen to close the gap and eventually finish as runner-up in the championship.
A Season of Ups and Downs
“I have no regrets about my season,” Verstappen said. “I think the performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times. And I always tried to extract the most from it, even in the difficult weekends that we’ve had. But, yeah, it’s been, like I said before, a proper rollercoaster with the car. Luckily, the last, I would say, eight, nine rounds in general have been a lot more enjoyable.”
Verstappen’s comments reflect the challenges he faced throughout the season, but also highlight his ability to adapt and perform under pressure. As he noted, “I never felt like I was in it until a few rounds ago. That’s pretty crazy.” Despite the setbacks, Verstappen remained focused and determined, ultimately finishing the season with a strong run of results.
Looking to the Future
Norris’ title victory brought an end to Verstappen’s run of four consecutive championships from 2021 to 2024. Despite missing out on the title this year, Verstappen said he felt better about the way Red Bull finished the 2025 season than he did in 2024 when McLaren started to emerge as the dominant force in F1.
“At the end of the day, of course, it’s always nicer to win it,” he said. “But, honestly, I’m sitting here now with probably a better feeling than what I had last year at this time because the second half of last year was pretty tricky at times as well. So, we have been struggling for, I would say, a year — the second half of last year and the first half of this year. But I actually feel a lot better now.”
Verstappen’s comments suggest that he is already looking to the future and is optimistic about his chances of regaining the title in 2026. With a strong team behind him and a renewed sense of determination, Verstappen is likely to be a major contender in the upcoming season.
As the F1 season comes to a close, fans and pundits alike will be eagerly anticipating the 2026 season, which promises to be just as exciting and unpredictable as the last. With Verstappen and Norris set to battle it out once again, the stage is set for another thrilling year of racing.
