Max Verstappen reflected on a thrilling season with Red Bull, despite narrowly missing the Formula One title to McLaren's Lando Norris. Verstappen secured his eighth victory of 2025 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but was unable to become the second driver to win five consecutive championships. He needed a win and for Norris to finish off the podium, but Norris finished third.
Verstappen praised his team for their resilience throughout the season. After August's Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, he was 104 points behind the championship leader. However, he managed to win five out of eight races between Italy and Qatar, closing the gap to just 12 points before Abu Dhabi. "I think we've had a rollercoaster of a year," Verstappen told Sky Sports.
The Red
Bull team demonstrated remarkable perseverance, never giving up despite being over 100 points behind at one stage. They worked tirelessly to understand and resolve issues that plagued them early in the season. Verstappen appreciated this effort, saying, "It's easy to say 'this is it,' but they always kept trying. "
Verstappen also acknowledged Norris's achievement in winning his first world title. Norris became the 11th British driver to claim this honour, winning by just two points. This marked only the 14th time an F1 title was decided by such a narrow margin and was the first since Lewis Hamilton's victory in 2008.
Norris's triumph was significant as it was the first time since Jenson Button in 2009 that a driver outside Mercedes or Red Bull won during the hybrid era. Verstappen expressed no regrets about losing by such a slim margin, stating, "I don't see it like losing. " He acknowledged Norris's excellent season and wished him well in celebrating with his family and team.
Despite not clinching the title, Verstappen enjoyed the competitive nature of the season. He remarked on how enjoyable it was to fight back from difficult situations and how proud he was of his team's efforts. "At the end, it doesn't matter if you finish behind by one point or more," he said.
Eight wins in 2025 We fought until the very end #F1 || #AbuDhabiGPpic.twitter.com/WysLMfd8JZ
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) December 7, 2025
The season showcased intense competition among drivers like Norris and Oscar Piastri, with Verstappen joining later in their battle. Winning one's first championship is always emotional and special for any driver on the grid who dreams of that moment.
Verstappen concluded that although he didn't secure another championship this year, he found joy in competing fiercely until the end. The experience has been rewarding for him personally and professionally as part of Red Bull Racing.
