As the summer break from F1 is in full effect, the outcome from the first half of the season set Max Verstappen’s expectations for 2025. With only two races won this season, the issues with the RB21, and Red Bull’s internal troubles, the Dutchman does not have high hopes for the rest of the year.
Despite all the problems for RBR and their prodigy, the 27-year-old still managed to keep up with McLaren in the standings in the opening rounds. Yet, as Piastri and Norris left the rest of the grid in the dust, pressure from Russell will force Verstappen to defend his third place.
The F1 Hungarian GP, the last round before the break, saw Max Verstappen struggling; the World Champion finished ninth. Unfortunately for him, this is not the first time in 2025 that the Dutchman finished outside the top 5.
Recovering whatever’s left of ’25
For the first time since 2020, Max Verstappen is not in the battle for the Drivers’ Championship.
However, Verstappen highlighted his desire for a respectable finish to his 2025 F1 season:
“We always want a decent finish. Of course, the focus for everyone is already a lot on ’26. But I think what we need to try and achieve is more consistent behaviour and results at the end of the day,” said the Dutchman in the print media pen after Hungary.
Nevertheless, he is not jumping to cynical conclusions. Even if the F1 Hungarian GP was disastrous, Verstappen believes another race win might be on the cards.
“I don’t know. After a weekend like this, it’s very difficult to say. But you never know. There might always be surprises or whatever.”
Falling out of the championship
After the first race of 2025, it became abundantly clear that RBR would have to try twice as hard if they wanted their world champion to keep his title. Yet, as McLaren kept advancing and improving their package, the Dutchman’s talent was not enough without a race-winning car.
When Verstappen was questioned about his expectations at the beginning of the 2025 F1 season, he admitted he tried to remain open-minded.
“I just stay neutral in everything. So I don’t become overly optimistic or pessimistic or whatever. I was like, ‘Well, we’ll see. I hope, of course, that we can still win some races here and there.'”
Without dwelling too much on what-ifs, the Red Bull driver recognised the achievements they did earn. Moreover, Verstappen spoke of the excellence between McLaren’s continuity from 2024 to 2025, in comparison to Red Bull’s last two seasons.
“We still did that. We still won two races. But it is tough.
“But on the other hand, you also need to acknowledge that McLaren has done a fantastic job from last year to this year also. From our side, it’s been a bit more difficult.”
Red Bull’s new management
While even the 27-year-old tried to remain hopeful, the recent lack of podiums recently was quite disheartening. The 2025 season is one of Verstappen’s worst in recent years, and the F1 Hungarian GP was a hard wake-up call for Red Bull.
“Yes. But it’s not a surprise, of course, if you look at the problems that we are having,” admitted the Dutchman, talking about the string of bad results of the last 4 rounds. “I think, on the other hand, for four years, I’ve had really a lot of good results. It comes and goes, success.”
Ending his interview with a note of positivity, Max Verstappen appeared satisfied with Red Bull’s new team principal, Laurent Mekies.
Following Christian Horner’s departure, Mekies took charge of RBR. After two race weekends at the helm, the World Champion expressed his confidence in the new TP.
“Yes, he’s very open-minded. It will only get better and better, of course, with the communication that we have. But it’s been going really well.”
