Max Verstappen insisted he had “no regrets” after falling simply brief in his quest to win a fifth consecutive Formulation One title, taking subject with one journalist who steered that his road-rage incident with George Russell on the Spanish Grand Prix in June may need price him the crown.
Verstappen stormed to his eighth victory of the 12 months in Abu Dhabi – which was greater than every other driver managed. McLaren’s and crew mate Oscar Piastri took seven wins apiece in 2025.
Commercial
However it proved to be not fairly sufficient. Regardless of an unbelievable comeback within the last a part of the 12 months, Verstappen, who discovered himself 104 factors off the tempo after his house race in September, was crushed by simply two factors within the last reckoning.
Purple Bull’s four-time world champion bristled at a suggestion from one journalist, nonetheless, that the incident in Spain may need been accountable.
Verstappen was sanctioned by the stewards in Barcelona for . He dropped from fifth to tenth in consequence, costing him 9 factors.
Requested if he regretted his driving in Spain – for which he subsequently accepted blame – Verstappen snapped again: “You neglect all the opposite stuff that occurred in my season. The one factor that you just point out is Barcelona. I knew that [question] would come. And you’re giving me a silly grin now.”
Commercial
Verstappen stated it was too simple to pick remoted incidents through the season. Norris, as an example, was handed three factors when McLaren controversially determined to swap their drivers round on the Italian Grand Prix, and the Briton ended up successful the title by simply two factors.
Verstappen claimed his eighth race win of the 12 months with victory in Abu Dhabi – Getty Photographs/Clive Rose
“It’s a part of racing,” Verstappen stated. “You reside and be taught. A championship is received over 24 rounds and I’ve additionally had numerous early Christmas presents given to me within the second half of the season so you can too query that, too.”
Verstappen added that in his opinion 2025 had been the “finest” season of his profession by way of his driving.
Commercial
“Yeah, I feel so,” he stated. “I imply, I’ve no regrets. I feel the efficiency has been robust. I’ve hated this automotive at occasions, however I’ve additionally liked it at occasions. It’s been, like I stated earlier than, a correct roller-coaster with the automotive. Fortunately, the final, I’d say, eight, 9 rounds usually have been much more pleasant. And likewise, within the crew, we now have an important environment for the time being. We’re actually on a roll – constructive power, perception, confidence – and that’s precisely what you need heading into subsequent 12 months.”
Verstappen had heat phrases for Norris, saying the Briton ought to and hailing McLaren’s “unbelievable season”.
Verstappen (proper) was stuffed with reward for Norris after the Briton clinched his maiden F1 world title – Getty Photographs/Mark Sutton
Verstappen additionally praised his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who was compelled to overlook a number of races earlier this 12 months for personal causes and was clearly vastly emotional on the finish of the race.
Commercial
“I don’t wish to go an excessive amount of into element, however it’s been robust,” Verstappen stated. “However I’m very completely satisfied to have the ability to work with somebody that passionate. After all, he’s my race engineer, however I see him as my pal.”
Piastri, in the meantime, stated he had been impressed by in Brisbane earlier on Sunday, quipping that “it was good that the boys might wrap it up earlier than the race began”.
However the Australian lamented the truth that he had been unable to overtake Norris for the title. Piastri stated he didn’t anticipate the crew dynamic to alter subsequent 12 months now that Norris was champion and praised McLaren’s efforts to be even-handed, saying the truth that he and Norris had not had any main bust-ups all 12 months was “testomony to the best way we go racing”.
Piastri stated he would now go on vacation and hoped to attend the Boxing Day check on the MCG.
Commercial
“There’s a part of me that type of desires the sequence to nonetheless be alive by that time, and a part of me that actually doesn’t,” he stated. “It [the cricket] has been pleasant to observe for the final couple of weeks.”
