Max Verstappen’s dominance came to an end during the final race in Abu Dhabi. After a hard-fought title battle, rival Lando Norris came out on top. However, the Dutchman was not deterred; he expressed satisfaction with his own performance and pride in the catch-up that Red Bull has made. Former Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean also emphasizes that this season was a highlight in Verstappen’s already glittering career.
Despite missing out on a fifth consecutive world title, Verstappen ended 2025 with impressive numbers. The Red Bull driver recorded eight victories and took as many pole positions, more than anyone else. During the last triple header he also rode three extremely dominant Grands Prix, adding another three victories to his list of achievements. The counter now stands at 71 victories.
Source of inspiration
Verstappen may not have won the title, but according to Romain Grosjean that says little about the quality of his performance. The former Haas driver mainly points to the circumstances under which Verstappen completed his season. He made up a deficit of no less than 104 points and remained in the race for the championship until the last moment. “Verstappen was the most striking driver for me this year,” Grosjean told Sport1. “He didn’t have a good car, lost a lot of points, but came back. It was a miracle that he was still competing for the title in Abu Dhabi.”
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“Initially it was unthinkable that he would still compete for the championship and finish just two points behind Lando Norris,” the Frenchman continued. “He was fantastic. This was definitely one of his best seasons.” According to Romain Grosjean, 2025 even exceeds Verstappen’s previous title years. In particular, the dominant Red Bull season of 2023, in which the RB19 was virtually unbeatable, weighs less heavily on him. “I think he was very strong last year. The year before the car was so dominant that it was actually easier, although of course it is never really easy. He had to fight it out for his first world title with Lewis (Hamilton, ed.), which was also a special season. But this year, with such a big gap and such an impressive catch-up, was really inspiring for many drivers.”
View the 2026 F1 calendar here
Not one, but two editions to end 2025! In addition to the double-thick ‘Year of Max’ (124 pages), the 172-page FORMULA 1 Yearbook 2025 is now also available in stores (or at your home as a subscriber). Relive the season with team and driver analyses, facts and figures and the best themed stories from all Grands Prix! Don’t miss it! (can also be ordered online, with free delivery in the Netherlands!)
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