Max Verstappen Issues Stark Warning: Red Bull “Not Good Enough” in Title Fight
Max Verstappen has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his and Red Bull’s performance this season, admitting that the team simply hasn’t been strong enough to fight for the championship. Despite a late-season resurgence, the reigning four-time Formula 1 world champion believes the damage was done months ago — and says his hopes for a fifth consecutive title are now “virtually gone.”
Heading into the final three rounds of the season, Verstappen sits 49 points behind current championship leader Lando Norris. With just one sprint weekend and two main races left on the calendar, the gap is not impossible to close mathematically — but even Verstappen now concedes the reality: Red Bull gave away too many points at the worst possible time.
A Season That Slipped Away
Red Bull’s struggles began early in the year when the RB21 package failed to match the gains made by McLaren and, at times, Ferrari. Verstappen and the Milton Keynes squad endured one of the toughest mid-season slumps in recent memory. While Norris and Oscar Piastri capitalised with consistent podiums and strong race pace, Verstappen found himself slipping further away from the fight.
The turning point arrived at Monza, where Red Bull introduced a major floor update. That upgrade, along with internal structural changes under new team principal Laurent Mekies, gave the team renewed momentum. Red Bull also adopted new operational strategies, including revised pitwall leadership and revamped development priorities — decisions that paid off almost immediately.
Since the Italian Grand Prix, Verstappen has claimed three wins and four podiums within seven races — a massive improvement from his earlier form. The comeback allowed him to close the gap significantly, even eclipsing Piastri in points. However, Norris’s back-to-back victories have made another Verstappen championship run increasingly unlikely.
Verstappen Admits the Title is Over
Speaking after an impressive recovery drive from the pit lane to the podium at Interlagos, Verstappen was candid when speaking to Sky Sports F1.
“We lost way too many points from the start of the season until the middle,” he admitted, reflecting on missed opportunities and underperforming upgrades. “Even being in the fight this late was a bit of a surprise, but we have to be realistic.”
The Dutchman’s comments make it clear that while progress has been made, the early-season slump was too costly. Verstappen acknowledged that while mathematically still in the hunt, mentally he has already accepted that Norris is all but out of reach.
“If you look at the season as a whole, we just haven’t been good enough,” he said. “We’ll still push until the final lap of the final race — that’s our job — but at this point the focus is on individual wins, not the championship.”
What Went Wrong?
Red Bull’s loss of dominance has been attributed to several factors:
- Car development stagnation: Rivals outpaced Red Bull in mid-season aerodynamic gains.
- Internal restructuring following Christian Horner’s departure and Laurent Mekies stepping in.
- Operational mistakes and strategic misjudgments earlier in the campaign.
- Reliability issues and penalties, which forced Verstappen into recovery drives instead of fighting for wins.
The once unbeatable outfit has now found itself in a chasing position — a shock considering their overwhelming dominance in previous years.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment, Verstappen remains determined to close the year on a high. He insists that the remaining races will still be important for momentum, morale, and development heading into next season.
“We’ll try to score some highlights and win as many races as possible — that’s what we’re here for,” he confirmed.
Although the title appears destined for Norris, Verstappen’s resurgence suggests Red Bull may not stay down for long. The team now faces two critical objectives: defending second place in the constructors’ championship and ensuring the 2026 regulations era begins with renewed strength.
For now, however, Verstappen’s words echo a rare admission — one fans have not heard from the Dutchman in several years:
Red Bull were simply not good enough.
