Bold takeaway: Max Verstappen stands by his 2025 season, celebrating a rollercoaster ride that pushed him to the edge of a fifth straight drivers’ title while admitting there were moments of both intense love and fierce frustration with the RB21.
Max Verstappen says he has no regrets about the 2025 Formula 1 season, even though he finished two points behind the championship. He described the year as a mix of loving and hating the RB21 at different times, comparing the ride to a rollercoaster throughout the campaign.
Lando Norris’ third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sealed Verstappen’s fate at the final race, but the Dutch driver’s consistently strong performances kept him in the championship fight and helped him re-enter the title race late in the season.
The McLaren-White team’s rivals were more competitive for much of the year, with Verstappen often needing to push the limits to extract the best from a car that some observers considered the year’s best. Despite this, his results and persistence drew praise as one of his career highlights.
When asked by media outlets, including RacingNews365, whether 2025 ranks as his best season, Verstappen replied affirmatively. He emphasized that his season was strong in performance and that, while he disliked certain moments with the car, he also deeply appreciated its strengths. He noted that he always worked to maximize the package, even during difficult weekends, calling the season a genuine rollercoaster.
A pivotal turning point came with a floor upgrade introduced under new team principal Laurent Mekies, during the Italian Grand Prix in September. This upgrade reinvigorated Red Bull and Verstappen, a turnaround that initially looked unlikely and helped him win six of the final nine races, breathing new life into his title challenge against McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen explained that the upgrade made the season more enjoyable and highlighted the momentum the Milton Keynes squad built through this stretch. He hopes to carry that energy into a new era of regulations, including Red Bull’s transition to a power unit manufacturer.
“Fortunately, the last eight or nine races have been much more enjoyable overall,” Verstappen said. “And within the team, the atmosphere is excellent. We’re on a roll—positive energy, belief, and confidence—and that’s exactly what you want heading into next year.”
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