Red Bull driver Max Verstappen faces a very difficult task trying to retain his world championship crown.
Max Verstappen won the drivers’ championship by 63 points from Lando Norris last season.
While that seems like a comfortable margin, there was a lot of talk halfway through the campaign that McLaren’s advantage over Red Bull could turn the table by the time the season ends in Abu Dhabi.
However, Verstappen did an amazing job maximising every opportunity and finished runner-up to Norris on several occasions even when he had the third or fourth-fastest car.
The advantage Red Bull had at the start of last season has disappeared and everyone in the paddock was excited about McLaren’s car more than any of their rivals.
Nico Rosberg suggested Norris was the favourite for the 2025 championship at the end of last season before McLaren took a stride forward over the winter.
It means that Verstappen may have his work cut out at the beginning of the year, although he’s impossible to write off given his unbelievable level of talent.
The Dutchman said during his press conference appearance, “I know that we are not the quickest at the moment.
“But, again, it’s a very long season. If you would have asked that question here last year and at the end of the season again, you know, it would look completely different.
“So a lot of things can always change quite quickly in Formula 1.”
Ted Kravitz was speaking on Ted’s Podbook about Verstappen’s comments to the media on Thursday.
He admitted another answer he gave fills him with ‘optimism’ that he can battle Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri this year.
Ted Kravitz has ‘optimism’ that Max Verstappen can battle Lando Norris this season
Kravitz was reporting from the paddock at the Australian Grand Prix and shared more details about the four-time world champion’s first media day of the season.
He said: “I’ve got to say, the one who looked like he wanted his photo taken least and was more or less at the end of the day was Max Verstappen.
“And that’s the big question, in the press conference when he was interviewed, he confirmed the premise of Craig Slater’s question, which was, are you behind McLaren?
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“And bearing in mind that we might not know exactly how far you are because it’s such a different circuit from Bahrain.
“Craig wanted Max to expand on that and to say, well yes, I mean, it is a different circuit and give a full answer.
“But Max said, ‘No, you’ve just answered your question, correct’. So you’re right on both counts.
“And that gives me a bit of optimism that there’s going to be one Red Bull in the fight there as well with the McLarens.”
Max Verstappen rejects Red Bull media event ahead of 2025 F1 season
Verstappen is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid despite only being 27 years old.
He’s starting his 11th season in the sport and that gives him a very strong negotiating position when talking to Red Bull.
They’ll be wanting to do everything to keep him happy and so Verstappen not taking part in one media activity feels like an easy way to keep him onside, especially if the car isn’t as fast as he would like it to be.
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Lewis Hamilton is another driver who doesn’t take part in every social media activity that all the other racers do and Verstappen is very much on that level now.
Juan Pablo Montoya has warned Verstappen about the threats facing Red Bull this season but if there’s anything that last year proved, it’s that the Dutchman doesn’t necessarily need the fastest car to get the better of Norris on track.
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