Max Verstappen is worried for his 2025 F1 title chances (Image: Getty Images)
Max Verstappen has issued a stark warning to his Red Bull team, insisting they must up their game or risk losing out on Formula 1 glory next year.
Despite a strong start to the 2024 season and initially showcasing a dominant car, faced increasing pressure as rivals, particularly , narrowed the performance gap.
After clinching seven victories in the first 10 races, Verstappen faced tougher competition but still managed to secure his fourth consecutive drivers’ title, fending off ‘ challenge.
However, he expressed concerns about the future, telling : “If we continue like this, I will not be champion next year,” adding, “It is that simple. We really have to make steps to be competitive next season. We all know that.”
He remains confident, though, that the team can address last season’s balance issues and make necessary changes for improved performance over kerbs, bumps, and slow corners, which he identifies as weak points.
He also reminisced about the intense 2021 season, saying: “In 2021, there was a lot more pressure for me and the team. Then we competed against , a team that had been dominant for so long, and I was able to fight for a championship for the first time. and I finished first and second almost every race.”
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Lando Norris will be encouraged by Verstappen’s admission (Image: PA)
Verstappen, who regards his fourth championship win as his finest achievement despite a record-breaking 2023 season and a fiercely contested victory over Hamilton in 2022, knows that any future defeats will come down to sheer speed.
Despite a decade in F1, the 27-year-old driver admits he’s still learning and plans to use his 2024 experiences to fend off Norris and other rivals. He reflected: “I have benefited a lot from my experience this year. Stay calm, don’t force it, communicate well with the team and keep working hard. That is the key for me.
“It could have gone either way back then. This year there may have been a bit more drama around the team, but in terms of sport it was a bit more stressful back then.”