Verstappen: No regrets over 2025 season despite title near-miss

Max Verstappen insists he has "no regrets" over his 2025 Formula 1 campaign, despite falling just two points short of a fifth consecutive drivers' championship. The Red Bull driver described his relationship with the RB21 as a "rollercoaster," oscillating between love and hate, but believes the season showcased some of his strongest performances to date.

Why it matters:

Coming within a single podium finish of a historic fifth title, Verstappen's season is being judged by many as perhaps the best of his career, defined by extracting maximum performance from a car that was often not the fastest on the grid. His defiant stance highlights a driver at the peak of his abilities, finding satisfaction in the fight itself, even without the ultimate prize.

The details:

• The championship was decided at the Abu Dhabi finale, where Lando Norris' third-place finish secured him the title by a mere two points over Verstappen.
• For much of the season, the McLaren MCL39 was the benchmark car, forcing Verstappen to consistently overperform in the Red Bull.
• A critical turning point came with a floor upgrade introduced at the Italian Grand Prix in September, which transformed the RB21's performance.
• That upgrade propelled Verstappen to six victories in the final nine rounds, reigniting his title challenge against the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The big picture:

The 2025 season marked a significant transition for Red Bull under new Team Principal Laurent Mekies. The late-season surge created powerful momentum and a positive team atmosphere in Milton Keynes. Verstappen emphasized this newfound "positive energy, belief, confidence" as the ideal foundation heading into the sport's next major challenge: the 2026 regulation overhaul, where Red Bull will also debut as a full-fledged power unit manufacturer for the first time.

What's next:

Verstappen heads into the off-season and the 2026 regulatory reset with confidence, buoyed by Red Bull's strong finish. The team's late-year development success and the positive environment provide a crucial platform as they face the dual challenge of building a competitive new car and a brand-new power unit. The near-miss in 2025 will likely only fuel the motivation for a renewed title assault in the new era.