Max Verstappen may have clinched his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but his father, Jos Verstappen, is sounding the alarm about Red Bull Racing’s future. In a candid assessment, the elder Verstappen declared that unless significant changes are made at Milton Keynes, the Austrian outfit risks falling behind its fierce rivals in the 2025 season.
“Red Bull Is No Longer the Fastest Car”
Reflecting on the 2024 campaign, Jos Verstappen pointed out that Red Bull had lost its edge in the latter half of the season. While his son managed to secure the title with two races to spare, the team’s lack of pace compared to earlier in the year was glaring.
“They [Red Bull] are not running the fastest car at the moment,” Verstappen Sr. said bluntly. “Otherwise, he [Max Verstappen] would be winning races consistently.”
The Dutchman’s father was quick to credit Max’s resilience and skill in overcoming the car’s limitations, particularly during a challenging mid-season stretch where Red Bull’s dominance evaporated.
“Changes Are Needed for 2025”
With Mercedes and Ferrari showing significant improvements, Verstappen Sr. issued a stern warning: Red Bull must step up its game to remain competitive in 2025. He emphasized that the team’s struggles this season highlighted the need for a robust strategy to regain its performance advantage.
“For next year, some things have to happen for them to be competitive again,” he said. “It also shows how Max handles it and how strong he is under pressure.”
Max Verstappen’s winless streak of nearly four months in the latter half of the season underscored Red Bull’s decline. While the team began the year with unparalleled dominance—securing seven wins in the first ten races—its mid-season slump allowed rivals Mercedes and Ferrari to close the gap.
“I Need to See It First”
Despite his son’s undeniable talent and the team’s past success, Jos Verstappen expressed skepticism about Red Bull’s 2025 prospects until he sees concrete improvements.
“I want to see it first next year,” he said. “We started this year very well and then only slipped. It’s up to the team to show how they are going to be next year.”
A Warning Shot for Red Bull
With Mercedes and Ferrari poised to challenge Red Bull’s supremacy, Verstappen Sr.’s comments serve as a stark reminder that Formula 1 dominance is fleeting without constant innovation. While Max Verstappen’s driving brilliance masked many of the team’s deficiencies in 2024, the upcoming season will demand more from Red Bull’s engineering and strategy departments.
Red Bull’s rivals are closing in fast, and the 2025 campaign could be a pivotal test of whether Milton Keynes can adapt and thrive under pressure. For now, the message from Jos Verstappen is clear: the time to act is now.
