From absolute dominator to applauded outsider: Max Verstappen reveals the most unexpected side of his 2025 Formula 1 season.
Max Verstappen has long enjoyed a huge global fan base. However, during his most dominant years he was often booed by fans on the podium, many of whom were hoping for more variety at the front of the field. In 2025, though, the story changed. Red Bull no longer had a clear technical advantage, and Max Verstappen spent much of the season chasing rather than controlling the championship.
After the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the gap was enormous: 104 points behind the championship leader. Many had already written off his title challenge. In the final races, however, Verstappen gave everything. He clawed back points, won key on-track battles and applied pressure all the way to the final round in Abu Dhabi. In the end, the title went to Lando Norris by just two points. A defeat, but also one of the most appreciated seasons of his career. Yet, more than the final result, there was one detail that truly surprised Max.
The importance of the fans
The “real shock” for Max Verstappen was the support from the fans. The four-time World Champion admitted that he was struck by the reaction he received from supporters throughout the season, confessing that he did not expect to win so much of their approval. Over the course of the year, Max Verstappen noticed something different: fewer boos, more applause and greater empathy. According to him, the reason is quite simple.
In an interview given to Red Bull’s Talking Bull podcast and reported by Motorsport Week, Max Verstappen said: “It’s surprising. I think that naturally, with the role of the outsider, people start to support you a bit more, but I suppose that maybe they have finally started to understand who I really am.” He also stressed that he has never tried to project an image designed to please others: “That’s how I want to be, I don’t try to be a fake person in the paddock or anything, that’s not my style.”
There is another aspect that strikes Max Verstappen, who appears increasingly less obsessed with numbers and statistics: “People take life too seriously, especially in this sport. When I’m 50 or 60 years old, I don’t think it will matter how many titles I’ve won. Stress is bad for you, it’s better to live to 250 years.” A line delivered with a laugh, but one that says a lot about a champion who no longer feels the need to prove anything.
As the paddock prepares for the 2026 regulations, Verstappen’s shift from a polarizing figure to a respected veteran could redefine his legacy. Whether he is leading by half a minute or fighting tooth and nail for a single point, the “new” Max seems to have found a balance between his legendary competitive fire and a more relaxed outlook on life. If this season was any indication, the fans are finally ready to embrace the man behind the visor, regardless of where he finishes on the podium.
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