Red Bull focusing on Verstappen’s title push as constructors’ “will be harder”

Max Verstappen took a commanding victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix as he drove from pole to the top of the podium. With a surprising level of performance after a difficult start to the season, the shock success has seen team principal Christian Horner confirm the team’s efforts on the drivers’ championship.

Taking his first win of the season, Verstappen edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, finishing 1.4 seconds ahead of his friend and rival. This followed an impressive qualifying from the Dutchman yesterday.

“We’ve turned the car upside down this weekend,” Horner revealed yesterday after qualifying. “Max has worked hard with his engineering team just trying to get the car in a window and then he’s just gone and delivered the most amazing lap.”

Despite Verstappen’s success today, there is still a performance deficit to the Papaya team, with them showing superior pace so far this season – a pace that is likely going to continue as we enter a warmer section of the Formula 1 season. 

“Our priority is the drivers’ championship. The constructors’ will be harder but it is a long year and you never give up,” Horner told Sky Sports. “It is a marathon and things can change. It is all about maximising your opportunities and we have done that this weekend.”

The team chief was unsurprisingly full of praise for his star driver.

“That was one of Max’s best weekends. Max, without any debate, is the best driver in the world currently, but you are a team, not a driver. Winning is a real tonic.”

There are still fundamental issues with the RB21, however, highlighted by Liam Lawson and now Yuki Tsunoda. With there being such a difference in success between the driver pairing, a constructors’ fight is going to be difficult. 

It is, however, a long season. With 21 races left, we know perfectly well that things can change. Red Bull of all teams understand this after they lost their dominance to McLaren last year.