Max Verstappen’s 2025 Ambitions and Red Bull’s Struggles: A Challenging Season Ahead

Max Verstappen has long been synonymous with dominance in Formula 1, with four consecutive world championships under his belt. However, as the 2025 season progresses, his once lofty ambitions have been drastically scaled back. The overwhelming success that Red Bull and Verstappen have enjoyed in recent years is now under threat, with the team facing a series of challenges that make a fifth consecutive title look increasingly unlikely. With only ten races remaining in the 2025 season, Verstappen’s goals have become simpler: focus on having strong weekends here and there, adapting to a reality where Red Bull is no longer at the top of the grid.

Red Bull’s Decline: From Dominance to Struggling

The Hungarian Grand Prix in particular served as a cruel reminder of how far Red Bull has fallen from its peak. Verstappen, usually a force to be reckoned with, finished a mere ninth in the race. While Hungary has historically been a tricky track for Red Bull, this year’s performance marked a new low for a team once so dominant. Verstappen has often downplayed any chances of being in championship contention for 2025, but even the most optimistic Red Bull supporters have to admit that the team is facing some serious hurdles.

As of now, Verstappen finds himself 97 points behind the championship leader, Oscar Piastri, and with Mercedes’ George Russell closing in on third place in the standings, it seems more likely that Verstappen will be overtaken by Russell than defending his crown. This is a far cry from the Red Bull of previous years, which was synonymous with near invincibility.

One of the more striking issues for Red Bull this season is its one-car team status. With Verstappen clearly carrying the entire team’s hopes, the constructor’s championship has all but slipped out of reach. Even with a massive upgrade program, Red Bull’s struggles have not been solved, and Hungary proved to be yet another tough race weekend where the car’s weaknesses were laid bare.

The Impact of the Team Changes: Christian Horner’s Exit

In a move that shocked many, Red Bull decided to part ways with long-standing team principal Christian Horner mid-season. Horner’s departure reflects the team’s realization that it needed new leadership to address its mounting problems. Replacing him is Laurent Mechier, who has taken on the monumental task of righting the ship. Mechier himself has acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, indicating that Red Bull is fully aware of the hard work it must undertake.

Yet, even Mechier’s arrival could not save Red Bull from a disastrous Hungarian weekend. Both Verstappen and his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, struggled with grip, with Verstappen highlighting that no matter what changes were made to the setup, nothing seemed to help. This underlines a fundamental issue with the car’s development; it’s not just about the upgrades, but the fundamental understanding of what the car needs to work effectively.

Hungary Exposes Red Bull’s Weaknesses

In Hungary, the car’s lack of grip was most apparent in the long, medium-speed corners, where Red Bull’s aerodynamic performance failed to deliver. Verstappen and Tsunoda both complained of struggling to find the right balance in their setups. Even more tellingly, Verstappen said that if the team had identified the problem, they would have already made the necessary changes. This indicates that the team was caught off guard by how far off the pace it was, even on a track where they were expecting a challenge.

Hungary, with its unique combination of tight corners and tire demands, exposed the fragility of Red Bull’s setup. The car has a narrow operating window, meaning that when the setup is tailored for specific track demands, it can easily lose its optimal performance. In Hungary, the car’s inability to keep the tires in the proper working range caused a lack of mechanical grip, especially in medium-speed corners where Red Bull’s weaknesses were glaringly exposed.

McLaren’s Rise and Red Bull’s Frustration

While Red Bull continues to grapple with its issues, McLaren has emerged as a surprising force this season. With a superior understanding of how to manage tire wear and more stable performance in medium-speed corners, McLaren has closed the gap to Red Bull in a big way. Verstappen, who has been watching McLaren’s rise closely, has highlighted the team’s strength in medium-speed corners, particularly those between 95 to 135 mph. This range is crucial, as it’s a dominant feature on most F1 tracks. McLaren’s strong front end and ability to maintain rear stability in these corners have made them a serious threat to Red Bull’s previous supremacy.

Verstappen has acknowledged McLaren’s impressive development, pointing out how the car’s strengths on tracks like Belgium, where medium-speed corners are key, make it a formidable competitor. Even in Hungary, McLaren’s superior handling of medium-speed corners gave them an edge over Red Bull, and Verstappen’s frustrations were evident. While Red Bull was faster in high-speed corners, those are less common on the calendar and don’t make up enough of a race lap to offset McLaren’s overall advantage.

The Development Race: McLaren vs. Red Bull

Red Bull’s car development program has brought new upgrades, including front wings, side pods, and rear wings, in an attempt to solve its balance issues. However, despite these improvements, the car is still not where Verstappen needs it to be. In fact, the car’s limitations remain a major hindrance, even with the new upgrades. Red Bull admits that the upgrades have not been sufficient to overcome the balance problems that have plagued the team all season.

On the other hand, McLaren has continued to make subtle yet significant improvements, refining its car in ways that have made it a serious contender. Team principal Andrea Stella has mentioned how the team’s car has improved across 2025, with less obvious but important upgrades to the suspension, which have improved driver feel and traction. These incremental developments have allowed McLaren to stay ahead of Red Bull, making it a more competitive car across various types of circuits.

The Future of Verstappen and Red Bull

While the 2025 season may be disappointing for Verstappen and Red Bull, there is still hope for the future. Verstappen is signed with the team until 2026, and he has hinted that he may stay beyond that if Red Bull can prove they are the right place for him. His contract, which runs until 2028 with exit clauses, has given him room to think about his future in the sport. Verstappen has expressed a desire to stay at Red Bull for the long term, and the team knows that to keep him, they must provide him with a car capable of winning championships.

The departure of Horner and the arrival of Mechier has brought a renewed sense of optimism to Red Bull, even if the results won’t be immediate. Verstappen himself has responded positively to Mechier’s leadership, highlighting the new team boss’s motivation and the right questions he is asking. Verstappen believes that the changes brought about by Mechier will take time to show results, but he is excited about the direction the team is taking for the future.

Conclusion

Max Verstappen’s ambitions for the 2025 season have been significantly dampened by Red Bull’s inability to maintain its early dominance. While the team is still working hard to improve its car, the challenges are becoming more apparent with each race. McLaren’s rise and the ongoing struggles for Red Bull have reshaped the competitive landscape of Formula 1. For Verstappen, the rest of 2025 will be a season of adaptation and damage limitation, as he works through a season where his usual brilliance is not enough to overcome the car’s limitations. Looking ahead, Verstappen’s focus will likely shift to the coming seasons, where Red Bull will need to deliver a more competitive car if they are to maintain their status as a championship contender.

Full Video: