Max Verstappen’s attitude towards fighting for the 2025 Formula 1 title has changed in recent weeks ahead of the FIA’s incoming technical directive.
The Spanish Grand Prix will signal the start of more stringent flexibility tests on front wings for teams, which could help negate some of the advantage currently held by McLaren at the front.
Verstappen trails Oscar Piastri by just 25 points in the drivers’ championship and has a real shot at a fifth consecutive crown in 2025.
Firstly, he needs Red Bull to continue to make effective upgrades, and for his rivals to lose a little bit of ground with the impending new rules.
After a tricky Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen’s data highlighted his problems and proved that his car isn’t rotating as well as he would hope.
Fernando Alonso has backed Verstappen in the fight for another crown, but there are still 16 more races to go this season, and a lot could change between now and then. So far, neither he nor his team have done enough.
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Max Verstappen hopes Red Bull can repeat ‘special’ feat at the Spanish Grand Prix after technical directive
Verstappen’s unheard radio revealed a limited issue around the streets of Monte Carlo, with his car suffering from a lack of mechanical grip. It wasn’t quite what he had experienced the week before in Imola.
Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, he revealed how he harbours hopes of repeating his dream Red Bull debut from 2016 this weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.
“As for next weekend, I expect the car to perform better; we should be able to pick up a bit of pace like we did in Imola,” he said. “This track is more suited to our car; we should be stronger in Spain.
“The track has been used since the early 1990s; I like the variety of corners on the Catalan circuit; the fast corners are fun.
“Of course, I always travel to Barcelona in a good mood. I won my first Grand Prix at this race in 2016. Those are very special memories for me, and they come flooding back every year when we return to this track,” continued the 27-year-old.
“My goal remains the same as always: We try to make the most of our opportunities and see where that takes us.”
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Why Max Verstappen may be about to become the 2025 F1 title favourite
Jos Verstappen thinks McLaren have benefited for ‘far too long’ from the current flexi wings. If he is right about the situation and it reduces or eliminates their advantage, his son will be in a great position.
He hasn’t really had the fastest car on track once this season, but has still found a way to claim two race victories. In Suzuka he fought intense pressure to claim an impressive win.
Karun Chandhok says Red Bull are not struggling and doesn’t think that claims they have suffered recently are fair.
It did feel as though they had been heading in the wrong direction for a while, but their upgrades in Imola helped at least a little bit and have put them back into the mix.
What they cannot afford is weekends like Bahrain or China, where they have the third or sometimes fourth fastest car. In the long run, that will cost them.
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