An exceptional 2025 season for Max Verstappen – In 2025, Max Verstappen firmly established himself as the standout driver of his generation. Despite driving a Red Bull that was less dominant than in previous seasons, the Dutchman consistently kept rivals like McLaren on their toes, pushing them until the final race of the championship.

Although he ultimately fell short of claiming a fifth world championship, his performance won widespread acclaim and silenced critics who doubted his ability to adapt under challenging circumstances.

This season proved that, even when his car is less competitive, his determination and skill make him a formidable force on the track. Each race showcased his relentless drive, precision and mental toughness, setting him apart from the rest.

 

 

“He is one of the greatest champions of all time…”

Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 world champion, was full of praise for Verstappen’s 2025 campaign, making his sensational announcement.

“He’s in a league of his own,” Villeneuve told Next-Gen Auto.

“Not all champions are necessarily great champions. Max has proven that he’s one of the legends of this sport, on par with the Sennas, the Prosts and the Mansells of this world, and all the great champions who came before him.”

Villeneuve’s words highlight the growing recognition that Verstappen is more than just a product of Red Bull’s engineering excellence; he is a driver whose natural talent and competitive instinct elevate the entire team. He has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to maximise a car’s potential, regardless of its limitations, a defining characteristic of true F1 greatness.

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Chasing the Records of Hamilton and Schumacher

The comparison with Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher is now inevitable. Both legends hold seven world championship titles, and many have wondered whether Verstappen could ever reach their level. According to Villeneuve, however, the Dutchman not only has the potential, but also the mindset to do so.

“He never stops. He is tireless. He is a pure competitor and is passionate about the sport, which is exactly what we expect from a champion,” Villeneuve remarked. “He has the talent, so give him his chance and he will take it. That’s for sure.”

According to Villeneuve, what sets Verstappen apart is a combination of raw speed, consistency, and an almost obsessive drive to win. His 2025 campaign showcased these qualities in abundance. Even in challenging conditions, his performances were characterised by resilience and tactical brilliance — traits that mirror those of the sport’s greatest icons.

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A Legacy in the Making

As Formula 1 enters a new era, Verstappen is not just a dominant figure on the grid; he is a driver who shapes the sport’s narrative. While the 2025 season did not add another championship to his tally, it did cement his reputation as a driver capable of rivaling the legends of the past. His message is clear: Max Verstappen is not just chasing records, he is rewriting them, and the shadows of Hamilton and Schumacher may yet be within his reach.

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NEXT ARTICLE – Ferrari’s 2 cars designed for 2026. More Maranello madness?

The six race run in which concluded the 2024 Formula One season did not quite have the excitement of 2025 where the drivers’ championship was decided at the final chequered flag of the season. Max Verstappen in fact claimed the 2024 title in Las Vegas with two race weekends remaining.

However in terms of the constructors’ championship, the 2024 run in was nail biting for McLaren who once held a 74 point lead over Ferrari as the sport embarked on its final two triple header six races.

Two wins together with six podiums from Austin to Abu Dhabi saw the Scuderia come within just 14 points of their first championship since 2008. Yet at the annual Ferrari festive bash, Fred Vasseur announced that their 2025 F1 challenger would be an entirely new car.

 

Ferrari strange decision in 2024

This was confusing for a number of reasons. Firstly the SF-24 finished the year the strongest, but the Scuderia designed a car for 2025 that was “99% new components.” The team switched their tried and tested front suspension from its push rod configuration to a pull rod design.

But this was the final year of a set of car design technical regulations and the remainder of the field were refining their 2024 challenger. The result? The decision was proven to be a huge mistake, as the Scuderia failed to win a single Grand Prix and claimed just seven podiums all thanks to Charles Leclerc.

Now La Gazzetta in Italy is reporting Ferrari have design two cars for 2026, one for early testing and the other for the opening round of the season in Australia. Of course teams historically have launched a car for testing and then refined it significantly before it first races in anger, but two cars to start the year?

Yet building two different cars before the tyre turns in anger seems a strange approach, yet the madness of Maranello means nothing can be ruled out from the mercurial F1 racers. “Fred Vasseur’s team will present itself to the pre-seasonal tests with different versions of the same car, to best test solutions and set-ups,” reports La Gazetta…READ MORE ON THIS STORY