Max Verstappen has no regrets about how F1 2025 panned out, highlighting that he was in the final race with better feeling than 2024 when he won.
From 104 points to losing by two points eventually didn’t hurt Red Bull’s Verstappen in F1 2025. At one stage, the Dutchman had given up about a possibility to even dragging it to the final race, leave alone win it. But there was real chance to do it in Abu Dhabi against the McLaren pair.
The decision of Red Bull to bring bits even in the final races as opposed to development stop on McLaren’s side played a crucial part to help Verstappen push through, along with help from the ‘papaya’ team’s fair game policy between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Along the way, Verstappen lost points at certain races, whether it was the moment in Barcelona and or the hit in Austria, but it didn’t bother him considering the biggest loss was the first half when Red Bull didn’t get things right. Eventually, the Dutchman had no regrets how the season panned out.
“I mean, I have no regrets about my season,” said Verstappen. “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. And also, in the team, we have a great atmosphere at the moment. We’re really on a roll — positive energy, belief, confidence — and that’s exactly what you want heading into next year,” summed up Verstappen, who interestingly felt better after the final race in Abu Dhabi than what he did in 2024 when he actually took the F1 drivers’ title. The near comeback this year helped in having that feel.
Naturally, he would have wanted to win it all, but to be with a fighting chance in the finale did more than actually winning it. “I mean, at the end of the day, of course, it’s always nicer to win it,” continued Verstappen. “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. Of course, shame to miss out on the title, but at the same time, for a long period of time I was not even thinking about the title.
“I never felt like I was in it until a few rounds ago. That’s pretty crazy. But, yeah, you take your pride in different ways. I’m happy with myself and going into next year I’m not in a state of having to worry about my skills or whatever. So, yeah, I feel good,” summed up Verstappen.
Here’s appointment of Alistair David Rew: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03120645/filing-history/MzQ5NTc5ODA0MGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0
Here’s termination of Helmut Marko: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03120645/filing-history/MzQ5NTc5NzE0MmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0
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