Max Verstappen, take a bow – let’s talk about how the 2025 season was probably one of his most impressive yet.
- yasminthomas
- Dec 13, 2025
- 4 min read
While the headlines talk about Lando Norris, there is another driver who has drowned out the noise of the media to overcome all the odds and very nearly keep the championship title for the 5th consecutive year in a row. That is of course, Max Verstappen.
After a year of incredible dominance in 2023 it is hard to believe that Max Verstappen could ever achieve anything better. He has consistently proved his worthiness as a world champion to the sport. Constantly setting records after records like an excited child choosing sweets at the corner shop. 71 wins, 48 pole positions, 36 fastest laps, and 127 podiums. Impressive? Sure, but that wasn’t what made this season so impressive for Max.
This season, especially in the second half, we arguably saw a much more mature, yet still dominant driver and individual who showed even more impeccable talent. Almost a complete package of a champion. He may not have won the championship title this season to keep his crown, but it was that impeccable talent that allowed him to climb all the way to p2 in the championship from over 100 points in deficit and finish only 2 points away from the winner Lando Norris.
From a driver who has had winning drilled into his mindset from childhood, it was refreshing to hear a much more relaxed Max in the media this season. It was the same for when he crossed the finish line of the Abu Dhabi grand prix, where instead of anger or frustration or even silence on the radio over his failure to secure the title, we heard “I confess guys, when we come back in our second half of the season, we can be really really proud of that. So don’t be too disappointed. I’m definitely not disappointed. I’m really proud of everyone. We never give up”.
For the most part of the season it was a championship fight between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris while Max Verstappen was over 104 points behind the McLaren drivers. Mostly due to a poor car; evident with how poorly both his teammates Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda performed. But this was what made it even more impressive, as from the Dutch Grand Prix onwards, Max Verstappen consecutively secured podium finishes till the end of the season and added 6 more wins to his name.
He told Autosport.com, “The fact that we’re still in the fight now has to do with several things of course.” One of those things is of course McLaren’s mishaps. A double disqualification, questionable team calls, and driver mistakes were all taken advantage of by Max Verstappen and Red Bull at all the right moments in the final stint of the season. McLaren may have saved themselves from these mishaps by winning both the drivers and constructors championship, but Red Bull still sits in a pool of questions. Max Verstappen, however, has kept his head comfortably above the waters despite his teams struggles. Dare I say even carrying the Red Bull racing name.
It is his ability to be present that is what is most admirable. Red Bull key figures may be dropping like flies, especially key figures who brought Max into F1, but it is this present mindset that has kept him at the top this season. He has proved that despite those key figures leaving, he as an individual is still standing strong. How often do we hear Max on the radio ‘complaining’ about something in the car yet still setting the fastest lap. How often have we seen Max qualify at the back, yet manage to pull out even stronger drives and still get to the front? The Brazilian Grand Prix witnessed an incredible drive from p19 to p3 this season.
The team principle may change, the Red Bull team may be in tarnish, he became a father, he is even exploring his talents in other racing series yet when he is at the Formula one track, his mind is present. He knows exactly who he is and what he brings to the table and this season his mind has always been present when it mattered. Whether it be in the car, talking to the media, smiling with the fans, even finishing the season on a positive note despite losing his title.. All these things proving that this Max is the most polished and impressive Max Verstappen yet. Those complaints told his team exactly what he needed in the car to win. Those failures only gave him more motivation and focus to do what he needed to do for the team. The radio message at the end of year, was not him not bothered anymore, but him present with the reality that his team needs him (more than he needs them).
Whether he will stay with the team that he has been so loyal to or if he will continue his legacy elsewhere is still up in the air. I would personally argue though that if Red Bull can pull out a winning car next season, a less toxic environment can make room for an even more polished Max Verstappen. He has proved himself to be not just an incredible driver but a true leader to the team who are now very much relying on him as a driver and individual. A Red Bull team without Max Verstappen is questionable to survive but Max Verstappen without Red Bull Racing... he's proven this season that whatever his decision, he will be just fine.
I agree with you on this this .Max has grown up and showing that he is not only a talented subject matter expert when it comes t F1 but also accepting thst he is part of a team and although he may be at the point of the team he still needs to work as a team. Who knows what red bulls car will be like next year but i think we can look forward to an exciting year ahead.