F1 2025 | Max Verstappen on Red Bull revival: “At one point I thought we couldn’t fix it”. Max Verstappen admitted he doubted Red Bull’s ability to recover in 2025.

Verstappen shakes Red Bull: “I didn’t think we would manage to bounce back”

Red Bull has returned to winning form, but Max Verstappen admitted he experienced serious doubts during a 2025 Formula 1 season that at one stage seemed almost lost. The Dutch driver, a four-time world champion, revealed that there were moments when he thought the team might not be able to turn things around.

After a difficult start to the year, with disappointing performances such as the lacklustre Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen confessed he questioned whether Red Bull could find its way back. Yet two consecutive victories, first in Italy and then in Azerbaijan, have restored belief and brought fresh energy to the Milton Keynes-based squad.

Doubts and recovery

“In the end, you always go through tough times,” Max Verstappen explained. “Sometimes you really ask yourself: ‘Will we still be able to fix things?’. But there’s no point in dwelling on it too much: you need to look for solutions, talk with the people inside the team, and exchange positive ideas. That’s what we did.”

The turning point came with the introduction of a new floor and a slightly different development philosophy, as also highlighted by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. Max Verstappen added: “We don’t have to try too many things with the car during the weekend anymore. This makes everything much more enjoyable.”

The role of teamwork

The input of Laurent Mekies and Pierre Wache proved decisive, as did the close communication with Verstappen himself. “We had many discussions about how to improve and test certain elements,” he noted. “In the end, I think we managed the whole situation really well.”

Keeping both feet on the ground

Despite the recent improvements, Max Verstappen remains cautious and avoids making any predictions about the championship fight. For him, the most important aspect is the atmosphere that has returned to the team. “Seeing that things are going better makes the victories even more special, especially because we went through the worst moments together. Now there’s more confidence, and that is fundamental.”

Red Bull seems to have rediscovered its strength, much like in previous seasons where in-season development proved decisive. This time, however, the fight is shaped by the budget cap, a factor that Max Verstappen believes makes their resurgence even more significant.