Despite having, at times, the third-fastest car on the grid, Verstappen still placed no lower than sixth in every race he finished across the year and picked up an eighth victory in Sao Paulo — from 17th on the grid — to effectively make the drivers’ title a certainty in Las Vegas.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a year and Max has been truly outstanding,” Horner told Sky Sports F1. “We got off to a flying start, we had a very difficult summer, but he just kept nailing the results.
“He’s won eight grands prix, that’s more than double any other driver. He’s just been outstanding.
“I think this has been his best and hardest championship and he’s shown maturity, he’s delivered on the days when the car wasn’t quite there and there’s no one more deserving of this championship than Max.”
Elsewhere, Sergio Perez’s performance was massively underwhelming and resulted in Red Bull losing its constructors’ title crown, as the Mexican driver scored just 152 points compared to Verstappen’s 437.
There was also a mass exodus of big-name team members, as chief designer Adrian Newey announced he was leaving the team and moving to Aston Martin; former sporting director Johnathan Wheatley accepted a team principal role with Audi F1; and head to strategy Will Courtenay announced he would be departing to become McLaren’s new sporting director.
What effect will their absence have on Red Bull’s 2025 prospects? We’ll have to wait and see.
2025: Red Bull’s toughest challenge yet?
After a dominant campaign in 2023, Red Bull slowly went backwards in 2024. Will they remain there in 2025?
Grand Prix Photo
2025 could be the toughest F1 season that Red Bull has endured in some time.
It ended its last F1 campaign as the third-fastest constructor, and without the design input of Adrian Newey on its 2025 challenger, a return to the front is not expected to be sudden. There’s also numerous major staff departures that will need to be replaced, possibly effecting the dynamic in and out of the garage.
“We won’t be the favourites, but that’s okay,” Verstappen told Servus TV. “We still have to change a lot of things to be number one again. But that’s okay and maybe sometimes it’s good not to be the favourite at the start of the season.”
“I also, of course, know that the other ones are not sitting still,” he continued.
“So next year is going to be, I think, a big battle. But like I said before, even when you’re not the quickest, if you just keep maximising those results, a lot is possible.”
The addition of Liam Lawson, who will replace the struggling Sergio Perez for 2025, could either be a help or a hinderance. The young Kiwi impressed during his stand-in drives at RB and has now been given a pressurised promotion in a seat next to Verstappen — who has a history of crushing team-mates into a fine powder.
Should Lawson find form quickly, Red Bull could soon find itself fighting at the front end of the constructors’ standings once again. But should he struggle, Verstappen could once again be the Milton Keynes outfit’s lone gunman.
Red Bull 2025 F1 driver line-up
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| Max Verstappen | Liam Lawson |
- Verstappen settled at Red Bull, with a contract until 2028
- Liam Lawson replaces Sergio Perez
- Reserve driver yet to be revealed
Key personnel
Team principal: Christian Horner
Since Red Bull first entered Formula 1 as a constructor, Christian Horner has been tasked with leading the charge.
Having never stepped foot in an F1 paddock before, the 31-year-old was a bold choice to direct the team in 2005. But, since the former F3000 team owner took control, he’s led it to the pinnacle of F1 — and back again after tricky seasons in the mid-2010s. With a record of 122 race victories from 394 grands prix, Horner is not just the longest-serving team principal, he’s one of the most successful in F1 history.
The Englishman will be aiming to lead Red Bull back to the very front of the grid in 2025, after a rollercoaster year in 2024 has put the Milton Keynes outfit on the back foot compared to the likes of Ferrari and McLaren.