How 2025 will be a hugely important year for Verstappen and Red Bull
Red Bull Contentpool
General
- GPblog.com
The last two Grands Prix of the current season have yet to be completed, but Lewis Hamilton has already named Max Verstappen a favourite for 2025. The Briton already assumed that he will be unbeatable again. The qualities of the now four-time world champion aren't doubted, but there's uncertainty about the RB21. Will Red Bull manage to give Verstappen a competitive car or not? Looking ahead, that could become very important.
Even after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, in which Verstappen secured another world title, the Dutchman expressed his desire to stay with Red Bull. In the euphoria of the moment, perfectly understandable statements. Yet that certainly does not mean that Verstappen is fully serving out his contract through 2028. Verstappen is a winner - that became clear again this season - and always wants material to go for the highest prize.
If Red Bull does not manage to catch up massively next season, and McLaren and Ferrari are at least in the mix, Verstappen will really have to be in good shape to take the title for the fifth time in a row. Of course, Verstappen is by far the best driver on the grid. But even for the Dutchman, there is a limit to what is possible.
Important year for Red Bull
Should Verstappen no longer be able to compete for weekly wins, rumours of a possible switch to Mercedes or Aston Martin will undoubtedly return. After all, what if Red Bull already fails to build a strong car for '25, what does that say about 2026 - when a car has to be designed from scratch by the current technical team? Remember: genius Adrian Newey is no longer around.
From 2026 onwards, the regulations will undergo a major overhaul and it remains to be seen which team knows how to best prepare itself for that period. With the current generation of cars, Red Bull initially succeeded best, as evidenced by its dominant World Championship wins in 2022 and 2023. But that is no guarantee for 2026.
Success possible with Red Bull Powertrain?
Certainly not in the knowledge that from that year Red Bull will race for the first time with the Red Bull Powertrains developed and built itself. In the history of Formula 1, no engine supplier has ever been dominant right from the first year, and things would have to be very crazy for Red Bull to be. After all, the team has to compete against Mercedes and Ferrari, engine makers that have been doing this job for decades. Whichever way you look at it, that gives an advantage.
For Verstappen, 2025 will above all be the year to get a glimpse into the future: does calm return to the team, are the right technical people at the helm, and does he see things at the factory in Milton Keynes that give him confidence for 2026 and beyond? Because - as mentioned earlier - Verstappen is not the driver to fight for fifth for a long time.
In short, the pressure at Red Bull Racing is on: not only to help Verstappen to his fifth championship, above all to keep him on board for the years to come.