Max Verstappen Claims Team-Mate “Won’t Matter” in F1 2025 Title Bid
Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time Formula 1 champion, has made a bold statement regarding Red Bull’s 2025 title chances. As he looks to defend his crown, Verstappen says the identity of his team-mate in the other Red Bull cockpit is far less crucial than the performance of the car itself. The Dutch driver, who dominated the 2024 season with his fourth championship win, has shifted the focus of the team’s success to addressing key car performance issues ahead of the new season.
Max Verstappen’s Insight: Car is Key to 2025 Title Chances
Despite an impressive start to the 2024 season, the Red Bull RB20 struggled to maintain its performance as the year progressed. By the end of the season, many experts considered the car to be the third-quickest on the grid, trailing behind Ferrari and McLaren. However, Verstappen remains optimistic and insists that fixing the car will be the team’s top priority for the upcoming season.
Speaking to Blick, Verstappen emphasized that, while a competitive team-mate is always important, the car itself will play the biggest role in Red Bull’s 2025 title chances. “If we can get the car back to the front, the name in the other cockpit won’t matter,” Verstappen said.
He also acknowledged the challenges the team faces in the off-season, especially after the RB20’s performance dipped during the 2024 campaign. However, Verstappen has full confidence that the Red Bull team will address these weaknesses during the winter break.
“We often lacked the necessary balance because we simply couldn’t get into the low-temperature window,” Verstappen elaborated. “But if we can rectify certain weaknesses over the winter, we’ll be back at the front. I’m not making any predictions, but I believe five teams should be fighting at the front next year.”
Liam Lawson’s Role at Red Bull and Expectations for 2025
Max Verstappen’s new team-mate for 2025, Liam Lawson, has big shoes to fill. The 21-year-old New Zealander is set to join Red Bull as the second driver, following the departure of Sergio Perez. While Verstappen has no doubts about his own capabilities, the pressure will be on Lawson to perform well enough to help Red Bull secure the Constructors’ Championship.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, has also made it clear that Lawson’s role in the team is to support Verstappen and contribute to the team’s overall success. Marko set a clear target for Lawson, stating that he should aim to be within three-tenths of Verstappen’s lap times in both qualifying and race situations.
“That should be enough to get points for the Constructors’ Championship,” Marko said in an interview with RTL. He also noted that Lawson should focus on steadily improving his performance over the course of the season.
Max Verstappen, while acknowledging the expectations for his new team-mate, believes that a successful Red Bull season will ultimately come down to the car’s performance, rather than Lawson’s immediate results.
Max Verstappen Reflects on Past Team-Mates
As Verstappen prepares for his fifth team-mate since joining Red Bull in 2016, he took a moment to reflect on his previous partnerships in the team. When asked about the best team-mate he had worked with, Verstappen singled out Daniel Ricciardo, with whom he shared the Red Bull garage from 2016 to 2018.
“Definitely Daniel Ricciardo, I was able to learn the most from him,” Verstappen said. “I absorbed a lot and incorporated it into my experiences.”
Ricciardo’s tenure at Red Bull was marked by strong performances, but Verstappen’s rapid rise in the team eventually saw the Australian move to Renault and later McLaren. Despite their rivalry, Verstappen holds Ricciardo in high regard for the lessons he learned during their time as team-mates.
A Fond Farewell to Sergio Perez
As Red Bull moves into the 2025 season with a new line-up, Verstappen bid farewell to his long-time team-mate Sergio Perez. Verstappen praised Perez for his loyalty, a quality he values deeply in a team-mate.
“It’s a shame because we were a good team for four years,” Verstappen said. “Sergio was always loyal. That’s a quality I really appreciate.”
While the partnership between Verstappen and Perez faced challenges, particularly in the latter stages of the 2024 season, their relationship remained professional. Verstappen’s acknowledgment of Perez’s loyalty speaks to the respect they shared during their time together at Red Bull.
Looking Ahead: The Road to 2025
With the 2025 season rapidly approaching, Max Verstappen’s statement underscores the importance of car performance in securing the championship, particularly as Red Bull aims to address the issues that hindered the RB20 in 2024. As Verstappen prepares for a new chapter with Liam Lawson in the other Red Bull cockpit, the team’s ability to close the performance gap with Ferrari, McLaren, and other contenders will determine whether the Dutch driver can continue his dominant reign in Formula 1.
As the winter break progresses, Red Bull will undoubtedly be working tirelessly to refine the car and ensure it is in a competitive state when the new season begins. If Verstappen’s words hold true, the team’s success will hinge more on their technical development than the identity of the driver alongside him.
Conclusion
Max Verstappen’s candid comments about the 2025 season highlight the critical importance of car performance in Formula 1. While new team-mate Liam Lawson will be an important asset, Verstappen makes it clear that the key to winning the championship lies in fixing the weaknesses of the Red Bull car. As the team works towards addressing these challenges, fans can expect a fiercely competitive 2025 season, with Verstappen once again at the forefront of the title fight.
