Verstappen on finding pride beyond the championship

Max Verstappen may have narrowly missed out on a fifth consecutive F1 world championship, but the Dutchman takes immense pride in Red Bull's dramatic late-season resurgence and his own perseverance, proving satisfaction can come in forms beyond outright titles.

Why it matters:

A driver's mindset after losing a close championship battle can define their trajectory. Verstappen's focus on the team's progress and his personal resilience, rather than the final points deficit, signals a mature perspective that could fuel a powerful comeback in 2026. His positive outlook contrasts with the potential for demoralization after such a narrow miss.

The details:

Verstappen's 2025 season was a tale of two halves. After trailing by over 100 points following the Dutch Grand Prix in August, he and Red Bull engineered a stunning comeback.

• He finished the year with 10 consecutive podiums, including six wins, to take the fight to Lando Norris in the final round.
• Speaking after the Abu Dhabi finale, Verstappen revealed he feels "a lot better now" than he did at the end of his title-winning 2024 season, which had a "pretty tricky" second half.
• He acknowledged that for a long period in 2025, he wasn't even thinking about the title, only feeling in contention "a few rounds ago."

Between the lines:

Verstappen's comments underscore a shift from pure results-based validation to valuing the process and fight. His statement, "you take your pride in different ways," and his emphasis on never giving up highlight a driver confident in his abilities regardless of the championship outcome. This resilience, forged through a year of struggle, may be more valuable long-term than a straightforward title defense.

What's next:

Verstappen heads into the pivotal 2026 regulation changes with confidence, stating he is "not in a state of having to worry about my skills." The lessons in perseverance and problem-solving from 2025's rollercoaster could be crucial as Red Bull aims to build a new era of success. The narrow miss likely sets the stage for an intensely motivated Verstappen-Norris rivalry to continue.