Since the start of the ground effect era, the Dutchman has been almost unstoppable as he has claimed 57 wins in that time and had two years of utter dominance in 2022 and 2023.
The 2024 season was much more difficult for Verstappen as Red Bull fell back in performance as their rivals caught up, but that did not stop the 27-year-old from grabbing nine wins and his fourth championship over Lando Norris by 63 points.
| Position | Drivers' Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Max Verstappen |
437 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
374 |
| 3 |
Charles Leclerc |
356 |
| 4 |
Oscar Piastri |
292 |
| 5 |
Carlos Sainz Jr |
290 |
| 6 |
George Russell |
245 |
| 7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
223 |
| 8 |
Sergio Perez |
152 |
| 9 |
Fernando Alonso |
70 |
| 10 |
Pierre Gasly |
42 |
However, Red Bull will head into the 2025 campaign not having the fastest package, putting Verstappen’s title defence in doubt.
There is even more uncertainty surrounding the team – and the entire grid in general – in 2026 as the new technical regulations come into effect.
The new rule changes in F1 will see huge changes amongst the team, with new manufacturers Audi and Cadillac set to join the grid with their respective power units. Alpine will become a Mercedes works team after closing down their factory operation at Viry-Chatillon.
Red Bull will part ways with Honda as their engine supplier – with the Japanese manufacturer heading to Aston Martin – and have reached an agreement with Ford to work on their own power unit through Red Bull Powertrains.
It is unclear how competitive Red Bull will be with their new engines in 2026, and this has thrown Verstappen’s future with the team into uncertainty as he seeks to extend his dominance in F1.
The Dutchman has been linked with a move away from Red Bull following the mass exodus of key figures from the team in the wake of the drama surrounding Christian Horner at the start of the year. Adrian Newey’s departure for Aston Martin was the catalyst for the rumours as it sparked fears that the team would regress in his absence.
While Pierre Wache has made ‘very handsome’ preparations in the engineering departure ahead of Verstappen’s title defence, Robert Doornbos is convinced that 2025 will be the 27-year-old’s last season at Red Bull as he believes Verstappen will be driving ‘somewhere else in 2026.
The former F1 driver says that the Dutchman will want to be with a ‘major manufacturer in 2026’, casting doubt over Red Bull’s power unit with Ford and how strong it will be.
Asked whether 2025 will be Verstappen’s last season at Red Bull, Doornbos said via the GPFans NL YouTube channel: “I think so, and that really has to do with the fact that you want to be with a major manufacturer in 2026.
“If you don’t have that confidence with Red Bull Powertrains that they can deliver, which wouldn’t be crazy at all if they wouldn’t suddenly be dominant because they’re just starting out, then you want to go to a package that does offer that, to maybe do go on to take those eight world titles and become the all-time great.
“But if Red Bull somehow gets it together super early next year, then yes it could remain [that in the] summer he stays. But I don’t think so. I’ve said that before, 2026 he’ll be driving somewhere else.”
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but there have been several rumours surrounding certain clauses that could allow an early exit. It has been reported that Verstappen could leave before the 2026 regulations if he is outside the top three in the standings at that stage.
The Dutchman has been heavily linked with Mercedes since Lewis Hamilton confirmed his departure from the Silver Arrows to Ferrari. Verstappen’s camp had held talks with Toto Wolff as the Austrian sees the four-time champion as his number one target.
The Brackley-based outfit will run Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2025 alongside George Russell, but with the latter out of contract at the end of the season, Mercedes could reignite discussions with Verstappen over a potential deal if he is unsatisfied by what he is seeing at Red Bull.
Aston Martin have also been linked with signing Verstappen given that is where Newey will be heading in 2025. With the legendary engineer designing their cars and with Honda as their engine supplier, it would make complete sense for the Dutchman to move to the Silverstone-based outfit.
