Even during the latest season, as has often been the case since his arrival at Red Bull in 2016, Max Verstappen clearly outperformed his teammate. After just two rather difficult race weekends, the Milton Keynes team reversed its decision on Liam Lawson, who returned to the Racing Bulls to replace Yuki Tsunoda, who in turn moved to Red Bull.
However, even the current third driver for the Anglo-Austrian team was unable to match Verstappen’s level, the only driver to come close to an astonishing comeback in the Drivers’ Championship against Lando Norris. The 2025 world champion outperformed his teammate Oscar Piastri, with McLaren almost causing a major blunder due to the management of the so-called “Papaya Rules,” which ultimately opened doors for Max Verstappen.
Verstappen on being the clear number one
In an interview with Viaplay at the end of the championship, the Dutchman did not focus on Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles, but he emphasized how his undisputed status as number one helped him carry out his mission, without internal team strategy games. “When you’re on your own, you can attack, you can be much more aggressive. I always prefer it,” he commented. “If you’re equal in the car, then I wish both drivers (referring to the McLaren drivers) good luck, because then you can really decide it between yourselves.”
Max Verstappen thus highlighted his preference for being the team’s number one, unlike what happened at McLaren, where the British team gave both drivers equal status, nearly leading to a disastrous result in the championship. This is a choice Max Verstappen says he would never make if he held a different role in F1: “If I were a team principal, I would clearly establish who is number one and who is number two,” he added. “Of course, the number two still needs to score enough points to compete for the Constructors’ Championship, but there must clearly be a number one and a number two. By treating both drivers equally, McLaren clearly gave up some strategic advantages. So, obviously, we also benefited from this.”
Max Verstappen’s perspective therefore sheds light on the ruthless efficiency required to secure world titles in a highly competitive era. While many fans enjoy the spectacle of teammates racing freely, the Dutchman argues that such internal battles only serve to aid their rivals. For Max Verstappen, a team’s success depends on a unified direction, ensuring that the primary goal remains the championship trophy rather than individual intra-team glory.
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