Even geniuses need good tools and Max Verstappen is aware that if his Red Bull starts next season in the same way as it has finished this year, its era of invincibility could end.

It’s no secret that Max hasn’t had the best car for much of the year. Up until Miami, his RB20 was the best, but at that point McLaren took a big step, which Ferrari would later follow, and the Dutchman had to sweat buckets to become a four-time world champion, because in many races he didn’t even have the third best car and was relegated off the podium. Even so, in Milton Keynes they didn’t give up, they found some small solutions and Max showed that with little he can make magic.

The 2025 F1 season is the last with these regulations and, in principle, no major changes are expected in the cars, since there is very little left to squeeze out of these new rules. If everything continues as it should, the Red Bull would be born as the third best car and Verstappen has already warned that he does not see himself winning the title again if things do not change: “If we continue like this, I will not be champion next year. It is that simple,” the four-time world champion stated forcefully on telegraaf.

“We really need to take action to be competitive next season. It’s that simple” – Max Verstappen

Still, everything is very even and if they find some effective parts, the new Red Bull could be closer to the McLarens and Ferraris and that is why Max sent a message to his engineers and mechanics: “We really need to take measures to be competitive next season. I trust that the team can solve the balance problems from last season,” he acknowledged.

The problems are obvious, but finding a solution in a year where all the teams will focus more on 2026, with the change in regulations, than on 2025, is not an easy task and it will be very important for the car to come out well: “And some things that we couldn’t fix last year will change next year. We know that we have to do better on the kerbs, the potholes and the slow corners. These are generally our weak points. If we are beaten again, it will be because of pure speed,” he concluded.