Max Verstappen sits third in the 2025 F1 championship with 187 points, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 97 points and teammate Lando Norris by 88 points after 14 races.
• The four-time world champion conceded that Red Bull won’t win another race this season, stating “No, not the way things are going right now” following a disappointing ninth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
• Red Bull has fallen to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with only two wins this season at Suzuka and Imola, prompting a leadership change with Laurent Mekies replacing Christian Horner as Team Principal.
• Despite the struggles, Verstappen remains committed to Red Bull through 2026, dismissing Mercedes speculation and describing this as a “rebuilding year” for the team.
• F1 Deputy Race Director Claire Dubbelman praised Verstappen’s impact, saying his presence led to “the revival of the sport” in the Netherlands since his 2015 debut.
Why it matters
Verstappen’s dominance ending marks a seismic shift in F1, with McLaren’s resurgence potentially reshaping the sport’s hierarchy for years. Red Bull’s fall impacts the team’s legacy, sponsorship value, and future competitiveness as new regulations loom in 2026.