Verstappen is a four-time F1 world champion. With Red Bull, he has built a formidable partnership which, although it failed last year to achieve the desired clean sweep of both world titles, still secured the drivers’ championship. The departure of Adrian Newey has been deeply felt—impossible to deny, even though some members of the Milton Keynes team have tried. It was a painful loss because, from a technical standpoint, the RB20 lost its optimal working window in the attempt to keep up with fierce rivals—McLaren first and foremost, but also Ferrari and Mercedes.
For the 2025 season, the approach will change—at least, that is Red Bull’s intention, convinced they can turn things around under the technical leadership of Frenchman Pierre Waché. The 50-year-old from Auchel has worked hard to fix a major issue with the RB20: its inability to consistently deliver the right performance at every Grand Prix. The performance window was not wide enough to keep up with the updates from top competitors, and this has been the team’s primary area of focus.
Max Verstappen kept the team afloat thanks to his immense talent, combined with a clear tactical approach—aggressiveness toward any driver who stood between him and the title. His biggest challenger last season was Britain’s Lando Norris. The 1997-born driver was unable to consistently challenge the reigning four-time world champion, but when he did, Max made things clear right away. In other words, he showed he was willing to do whatever it took to keep Norris at bay in the standings, even if it meant skirting the limits of legality on track.
F1, Verstappen: Clear goals for the 2025 season
Overtaking Verstappen on track has never been easy, not even when he was a teenager with limited F1 experience. Let alone now, with years of top-level racing behind him, granting him the maturity to handle any situation. His mental strength is truly remarkable, especially considering everything that happened in 2024. Building a barrier around himself and staying in the zone, away from the noise, was no easy task. Yet Max managed it with disarming ease, without ever losing composure.
Throughout this, the Red Bull champion has relied on the strong support of Giampiero Lambiase. Many have analyzed their relationship, often describing it as stormy or unconventional. Some even claimed that they could no longer stand each other during last season. In reality, this duo is truly exceptional. They have been working together for several seasons, and despite occasional clashes, they remain an unbreakable asset for the multi-title-winning team—a key strength for 2025.
Recently, Max Verstappen completed his seat fitting for the new car, the RB21. His presence at the factory was also crucial in defining the plan for the coming weeks, as Red Bull’s latest aero-mechanical creation prepares to hit the track for important feedback. The initial confirmations, as always, will serve to move from theoretical assessments to objective data, verifying the margin of error between simulations and real-world performance. The team has high hopes for this phase.
This confidence stems from the extensive work done in recent months, particularly on the car’s suspension systems. Meanwhile, anticipation builds for the London launch event, where the new car’s livery will be unveiled. A day before pre-season testing, the car’s full design will be revealed. That event—the traditional filming day—will see Max and Liam Lawson, filling in for Sergio Perez, test the car’s capabilities, albeit under the usual regulatory limitations imposed by the FIA.
Max Verstappen’s goal remains unchanged: to enter the season believing he can fight and win again. His target is to match Michael Schumacher’s record with five consecutive world titles—a feat that eluded seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton after his slip-up in 2016, when Nico Rosberg claimed the crown. Of course, several rivals will have different plans. From Maranello, Woking, and Brackley, a unified message is being sent to Max: in 2025, you will not win…
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