Max Verstappen does not want to give up on achieving a special fifth consecutive Formula 1 title in 2025, but he has a lot of work to do ahead of him.
Red Bull’s car isn’t as fast as McLaren’s and they have been outdeveloped by their rivals over the last year or so.
But Verstappen has tried to make up for their deficit by giving his all on track. Sometimes, such as at the Spanish Grand Prix, that has carried consequences.
Two races from the halfway mark in the Formula 1 season and he sits third, just 43 points behind Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ championship.
Verstappen called George Russell ‘really good’ after being beaten in Canada. Despite sitting behind the Mercedes for most of the race, there was little he could do to add pressure.
His frustrations are starting to show, with Verstappen ending a Ted Kravitz interview early because he felt the Sky Sports presenter had unfairly singled out a team member for criticism.
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Christijan Albers shocked by Max Verstappen’s ‘unbelievable’ Red Bull issue in 2025
The Canadian Grand Prix was another instance of Verstappen not quite getting the launch off the line that he would have hoped.
While Verstappen’s camp have been surprised by Red Bull, their faith in the team to recover from their recent slump remains.
Everyone’s focus has been on the car, poor strategy executions and internal issues. One glaring issue has passed with little attention. Their starts are not as good this year.
Ex-Red Bull driver Christijan Albers has pointed out the ‘unbelievable’ turnaround which has cost them at stages in 2025.
“But you know how strong they were last year? With every start and how bad McLaren was last year,” he said.
“It just turned around in one go. How can that be, man? That is really unbelievable.”
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Why Max Verstappen is in a better position than he realises in 2025
The next few races will take drivers to Austria, Britain and Belgium as the sport arrives in an important part of the European season.
Expect hotter temperatures, variable summer weather and the chance for unpredictable outcomes before the summer break, which could offer Verstappen a chance to stay in the title picture.
From there, he gives his team a good opportunity to assess whether continuing to develop their car is a good idea. They’ll be able to gather whether a title charge is reasonable.
Red Bull staff believe Verstappen has set his retirement, but his hunger for victory shows no signs of waning.
All it takes is a few lucky results, and he could find himself in an intense battle with McLaren again. They collided in Montreal, and it could easily happen once more.
