Since 2021 Max Verstappen has been the dominant particular person power on the Method 1 grid. The Pink Bull driver secured his first Drivers’ Championship that 12 months in a dramatic duel with Lewis Hamilton that not solely went right down to the ultimate laps of the season, however stays a flash level amongst followers to at the present time. Verstappen went on to safe championships in 2022, 2023, and even final 12 months when McLaren’s MCL38 was the superior bundle on the grid.
This 12 months, nonetheless, Verstappen’s string of titles probably involves an finish. He arrived on the Summer season Shutdown with 187 factors, placing him 88 factors behind second-place Lando Norris, and 97 factors behind chief Oscar Piastri.
And with the McLaren duo swapping wins in latest weeks — Norris and Piastri rattled off 4 consecutive one-two finishes for the Woking-based outfit main as much as the break — Verstappen’s already-slim title hopes grew slimmer.
However to listen to the driving force inform it, he’s “not too fearful” about his championship probabilities.
In an interview with Lawrence Barretto revealed on the official F1 web site (a free subscription is required), Verstappen opened up in regards to the state of play at Pink Bull in 2025, and his future within the sport.
“You additionally simply have to just accept the place you’re at,” mentioned Verstappen of his and the crew’s present place, which finds Pink Bull fourth within the Constructors’ Championship standings and on their second Crew Principal of the season. “Yeah, we’re not the quickest in the intervening time, however we’re additionally not the slowest.
”We all the time need to be higher, and really that was the identical once we have been profitable. Now we’re not profitable that a lot.
“We simply attempt to give attention to understanding the automobile a bit higher, the place we will discover our time, due to course subsequent 12 months there’s new laws, however I believe there’s nonetheless quite a bit to study additionally this 12 months.”
Of word is the truth that Pink Bull parted methods with Christian Horner, the one Crew Principal of their historical past, selling Laurent Mekies into that function following the British Grand Prix. That transfer, coupled with a pair of openings at Mercedes subsequent 12 months, prompted weeks of hypothesis that Verstappen was contemplating a surprising transfer to the Silver Arrows.
Verstappen ultimately put these rumors to relaxation earlier than the break, and he instructed Barretto that he’s targeted on what Verstappen calls his Pink Bull household.
“It’s been nice being a part of a crew for thus lengthy,” he mentioned. “It undoubtedly is sort of a second household. We now have achieved so many lovely issues, together with in fact profitable championships collectively.”
Concerning these rumors, Verstappen reiterated that he’s targeted on the longer term with Pink Bull.
“Nicely, the factor is that there’s all the time different individuals talking quite a bit, whereas I’m probably not speaking, as a result of to start with I don’t have to, I don’t have to say something,” mentioned Verstappen.
“I believe that’s additionally higher for everybody, as an alternative of simply waffling issues round. It is not sensible anyway, it’s a little bit of a waste of time, however for me I’m very targeted on ‘26 with the crew, to look forward and make it possible for we nail the laws, and that we’re aggressive from the beginning.”
The motive force additionally believes that Pink Bull can bounce again after this season.
“The crew has gone from in fact profitable championships earlier than I arrived, to once I arrived, a bit by way of a rebuilding section, after which we actually hit the height once more of profitable championships,” he mentioned to Barretto.
”Now I really feel like [it is a] slight rebuilding [season]. We’re nonetheless in fact a really robust crew, however I do assume that to make once more a step up, there’s slight rebuilding or restructuring perhaps, and understanding a bit bit extra what’s happening, and that in fact takes a bit little bit of time, however hopefully not an excessive amount of time.
“I believe that’s additionally a bit the mentality of the crew [to fight back from a dip], it’s all the time been like that, so I’m not too fearful about that.”
F1 returns to motion on the finish of this month with the Dutch Grand Prix.
