Verstappen finds pride in 'crazy' turnaround despite missing 2025 title

Max Verstappen says he feels "a lot better" after the 2025 season than he did after winning his fourth title in 2024, taking immense pride in Red Bull's stunning second-half comeback. After trailing by over 100 points, the Dutchman and his team orchestrated a dramatic turnaround to finish just two points behind champion Lando Norris, with Verstappen winning the final three races of the year.

Why it matters:

A driver's mindset after a near-miss can define the following season. Verstappen's positive reflection, focusing on the team's recovery rather than the championship loss, signals strong morale and resilience within Red Bull. This psychological edge could be crucial as they head into 2026, a season of major regulatory change, with confidence intact.

The details:

• Red Bull's struggles spanned roughly a year, from the second half of the dominant 2024 season through the first half of 2025, where McLaren emerged as the clear favorite.
• At his lowest point, Verstappen found himself a massive 104 points behind the championship leader, a deficit that seemed insurmountable.
• The turnaround was triggered after the summer break, with the team unlocking significant performance gains on the RB21.
• Verstappen's late-season charge included a hat-trick of wins in the final three Grands Prix, applying maximum pressure on Norris.
• The Dutchman admitted he never felt in title contention until the final few rounds, making the comeback feel "pretty crazy."

The big picture:

This season redefined Verstappen's and Red Bull's narrative from one of dominant supremacy to one of gritty perseverance. Coming from so far behind to challenge for the title demonstrates the team's underlying strength and adaptability—a trait more valuable than sheer dominance in a competitive era. It proves Red Bull can fight back under pressure, a key asset as the grid converges.

What's next:

Verstappen enters the off-season without the doubts that sometimes follow a title defeat, stating he has no worries about "my skills or whatever." This clear-headed, proud perspective sets a powerful foundation for 2026. With the team having solved its performance issues and the driver brimming with confidence, Red Bull appears poised to mount a sustained title challenge from the start of the new regulatory cycle, making them a formidable threat to McLaren and the resurgent Ferrari.