Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, has issued a stark warning to his Red Bull Racing team following a challenging end to the 2024 season. Despite clinching his fourth drivers’ title, Verstappen expressed concerns about the team’s performance, particularly in the latter half of the season, where Red Bull fell to third place in the constructors’ standings, behind McLaren and Ferrari.
In an interview with De Telegraaf, Verstappen stated, “If we continue like this, I won’t be champion next year. It’s as simple as that. We really need to make steps to be competitive next season. We all know that.”
Verstappen’s apprehensions stem from Red Bull’s mid-season slump. After a dominant start, winning seven of the first ten races, the team experienced a five-month winless streak. This downturn allowed McLaren to surpass Red Bull by 77 points in the constructors’ championship. Verstappen highlighted specific areas needing improvement, including the car’s performance over curbs, bumps, and in slow corners. He emphasized the necessity for the team to address these issues to remain competitive in the 2025 season.
The Dutch driver also alluded to internal team tensions earlier in the year. Reports suggested that Verstappen had considered leaving Red Bull immediately if certain key personnel changes were made, particularly concerning advisor Helmut Marko. Verstappen confirmed these sentiments, stating, “It wasn’t a bluff.” He expressed confidence that the team could resolve its internal issues and focus on improving car performance for the upcoming season.
Additionally, Verstappen addressed the intensifying rivalry with McLaren’s Lando Norris, especially after contentious on-track incidents in Austin and Mexico. While Norris accused Verstappen of unsportsmanlike behavior, Verstappen maintained that their relationship remains amicable off-track. He criticized social media for exacerbating conflicts, stating, “The people make it worse on social media. There are a lot of idiots in the world who only make it worse.”
Looking ahead, Verstappen remains optimistic about Red Bull’s prospects for 2025, provided the team addresses the highlighted issues. He acknowledged the competitive nature of the current F1 landscape, with multiple teams capable of winning races. Verstappen’s candid remarks serve as a call to action for Red Bull to enhance their performance and strategy to defend his championship title successfully.
In summary, while Max Verstappen celebrates his fourth World Championship, he has issued a clear warning to Red Bull Racing: without significant improvements and resolutions to both technical and internal challenges, retaining the title in 2025 will be a formidable task.
