Max Verstappen Declares 2025 His Best F1 Season Despite Championship Loss to Norris

Max Verstappen insists his 2025 campaign—ending in a two-point championship loss to Lando Norris—represents the strongest driving of his career, declaring he has "no regrets" about a season defined by dramatic resurgence. The Red Bull driver overcame a dismal first half, including a minute-long deficit in Hungary, to ignite a three-way title fight through eight consecutive races of dominant form before narrowly missing his fifth crown.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's psychological shift—from viewing 2024 as a "tricky" year to embracing 2025's challenges as growth—signals renewed confidence ahead of F1's 2026 regulation reset. His satisfaction despite defeat contrasts sharply with past seasons where championship losses triggered visible frustration, suggesting matured resilience that could redefine Red Bull's competitive trajectory.

The details:

• Championship Narrowness: Norris clinched the title by just two points after Verstappen's Yas Marina victory, marking F1's closest finish since 2007.
• Midseason Transformation: Red Bull's performance turnaround under team principal Laurent Mekies turned a seemingly lost campaign into a genuine battle, with Verstappen securing six wins in the final nine races.
• Car Dynamics: Verstappen openly acknowledged the RB21's early flaws—"I've hated this car at times"—but praised its late-season evolution: "The last eight or nine rounds have been far more enjoyable."
• Team Chemistry: He highlighted improved internal dynamics: "We're really on a roll—positive energy, belief, confidence. That's exactly what you want heading into next year."
• Performance Benchmark: When asked if 2025 was his best season, Verstappen confirmed: "Yeah, I think so... the performance has been strong. I always try to extract the most even on difficult weekends."

What's next:

Verstappen's mindset positions Red Bull for an aggressive 2026 reset, with his confidence in team cohesion potentially accelerating adaptation to new technical regulations. The Dutch driver's refusal to dwell on the narrow loss—"For a long period, I wasn't even thinking about the title"—suggests focus has already shifted to reclaiming dominance.

• Red Bull's engineering team will prioritize early-season reliability to avoid repeating 2025's slow start.
• Verstappen's emphasis on "not worrying about my skills" indicates mental readiness to challenge McLaren's emerging supremacy.
• With Norris' championship validating McLaren's upward trajectory, the 2026 season could see an intensified rivalry if Red Bull's development curve continues accelerating.