Max Verstappen believes Red Bull’s commitment to not giving up will help it recover from a tough end to 2024 to deliver him another title-contending car in Formula 1.
Verstappen bagged his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship last term, but his latest triumph wasn’t as straightforward as his previous two under this rules cycle.
The Dutchman was on track to surge to the crown with seven victories in the opening 10 rounds until severe balance woes with the RB20 prompted a 10-race drought.
Red Bull’s woes reached a head at the Italian Grand Prix as Verstappen described the car as a “monster” as recent updates accentuated the issues it had experienced.
But having discarded the developments that were planned, Red Bull introduced upgrades in Austin that helped Verstappen to two more wins as he retained the crown.
Verstappen has commended how Red Bull didn’t panic when it sustained that abrupt dip and instead worked as a collective unit to resolve the troubles that it endured.
Asked how much optimism he has that Red Bull will overcome those complications to put him in a position to win the championship again in 2025, Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week: “What I know is that the team doesn’t give up. There are a lot of very competent people and I really enjoy working with them.
“I know it’s been tough for them as well. You know, there was a lot of pressure on them this year.
“When you come out of a season like last year, where basically we broke every record and then at one point you start to struggle with the car and you don’t really seem to understand what is going on or what is going wrong, it’s important to remain calm and try to fix it.
“Every person in the team has their own emotions that you have to deal with. So in a way, it’s also people management, because everyone reacts a little bit different to good results or bad results. But that’s something that I enjoy as well, because everyone has their own character, but we all have to work together to the same end goal.
“I’m very proud of how everyone stuck together in those very tough races where we came out a bit lost. And then we got back at the factory, there were a lot of analysis going on. Yeah, just the response from that.
“I think when we went to Austin after really understanding our issues from, let’s say, Monza, you have to see already an upturn in performance and a lot of ideas for next year.
“A few things couldn’t change anymore this year. So that is something for next year. I just hope that that makes the car more drivable, [and] in general more competitive.”
Verstappen expects tough battle in 2025
But despite managing to pick up those two late wins in Brazil and Qatar, Red Bull still trailed behind McLaren and Ferrari as the season finale in Abu Dhabi showcased.
“I also, of course, know that the other ones are not sitting still,” he continued.
“So next year is going to be, I think, a big battle. But like I said before, even when you’re not the quickest, if you just keep maximizing those results, a lot is possible.”
Verstappen has since reiterated that sentiment as he conceded that Red Bull will head into the upcoming campaign as not the overwhelming bet to secure either title.
“We won’t be the favourites, but that’s okay,” Verstappen told Servus TV.
“We still have to change a lot of things to be number one again. But that’s okay and maybe sometimes it’s good not to be the favourite at the start of the season.”
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