Jos Verstappen has fired a pointed shot at Red Bull while praising his son Max for single-handedly keeping the 2025 title fight alive. Speaking to Dutch media ahead of the Abu Dhabi finale, the former F1 driver claimed rival teams no longer fear the Red Bull car itself—just the four-time champion behind the wheel. “They don’t take Red Bull into account, they take Max into account,” Jos said, suggesting the RB21 has become little more than a taxi for the sport’s most ruthless talent.
Max’s stunning resurgence—from 104 points behind Oscar Piastri mid-season to just 12 off leader Lando Norris—has turned what could have been a predictable McLaren intra-team procession into one of the most dramatic three-way battles since 2010. Jos believes only F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali truly understands how catastrophic Max walking away would be for the sport. “Ask Stefano,” he laughed, insisting his son’s presence has injected “extra life” into a championship that would otherwise be “a bit duller.”
The elder Verstappen’s comments carry extra sting after Qatar, where McLaren’s catastrophic strategy gifted Max a victory that looked destined for Piastri. That result flipped the standings again—Max now leads Piastri by four points and trails Norris by 12—ensuring all three drivers arrive in Abu Dhabi with a mathematical shot at the crown. Jos made it clear he thinks the McLaren duo are feeling the heat: “This might be their only chance at a world title. You never know if you’ll be in that position again.”
Jos also revealed Max’s ice-cold mindset heading into the decider: “You either become champion or you don’t. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll try again next year.” The Dutchman’s late-season surge—five wins in the last eight races despite a car that’s often fourth-fastest—has exposed Red Bull’s reliance on its star driver. While the team struggles with balance and tyre wear, Max has dragged the package to victories through sheer racecraft and aggression.
With Abu Dhabi set to crown either Norris (needing a podium), Verstappen (needing a win and help), or the long-shot Piastri (needing chaos), Jos Verstappen’s words hang heavy: the sport’s entertainment value, and perhaps Red Bull’s entire relevance, rests on his son’s shoulders. As the title fight reaches boiling point, one thing is clear—Max isn’t just racing for a fifth crown; he’s carrying an entire team’s reputation with him.
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