Max Verstappen faces what may turn out to be his biggest challenge to date in Formula 1 as he attempts to win a fifth consecutive title in 2025.
Verstappen was able to withstand late pressure from McLaren’s Lando Norris last season as Red Bull were outdeveloped by some of their main rivals.
After losing Adrian Newey to Aston Martin, their task to remain top dogs in Formula 1 becomes a lot harder. He was the mastermind behind much of their success.
Michael Schumacher is the only driver to have won five consecutive drivers’ championships, and Verstappen has experience on his side as he attempts to replicate the feat. Many of his fellow contenders have little experience competing for titles at the highest level.
Verstappen will be worried by Red Bull’s McLaren comments behind the scenes, with his team convinced that the Woking-based outfit got away with breaking the rules in 2024.
A unique problem that they face is that Verstappen’s 2025 F1 car could be too cold at Red Bull’s factory, with their wind tunnel vulnerable to temperature fluctuations.
Tom Kristensen thinks Max Verstappen could be ‘stronger’ after becoming a father
There is just over one month before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, and no one quite knows what the running order will be.
With the 2026 F1 regulations around the corner, the field should be spread by an incredibly small margin. It may help spring some surprises.
The closer things are, the more of an advantage Verstappen has as one of the best drivers on the grid, as winning races may come down to the man within the machine a little more often.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen has never publicly admitted what he did after Christian Horner’s ‘painful’ criticism in 2018
The most decorated 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in history – Tom Kristensen, believes that becoming a father in early 2025 may make the Dutchman stronger.
“It will change a little bit when he becomes a father, I’m sure. But still,l when you’re able to bridge that out. I’m sure when he becomes a father, there will be even more in his life than just racing, hopefully.”
“I believe it does for everyone, for sure, it changes a bit, I would say it probably only makes you stronger,r but of course, it makes you a little bit try to make sure that you manage your time [a] little bit, and optimise these things.”
Many in the paddock expected ‘earthquake’ Max Verstappen announcement before 2025 F1 season
Red Bull and team boss Christian Horner faced a turbulent season in 2024 despite managing to retain one of their titles.
With Newey leaving to join a rival team and rumours of a Verstappen departure, it looked like the team may be vulnerable.
They kept it together well in the end, but many in the F1 paddock expected an earthquake Verstappen announcement which would see him join Mercedes for 2025.
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It was in the aftermath of Lewis Hamilton’s headline move to Ferrari that attention immediately turned to who would and could take his seat at the Silver Arrows.
They opted to promote 18-year-old junior Kimi Antonelli but took over six months to make their decision public. Signing Verstappen would’ve been a huge statement for their long-term aspirations.
