For the first time Since 2020, Max Verstappen is not playing a Role in the Formula 1 Title Fight After the Summer Break. The Four-Time World Champion is experienced an intermediate year, in which Zandvoort can symbolize occasional successes. This is what is at stake in the second half of the season.
It has felt unfamiliar to the 27-year-old Verstappen for months: Participating in Formula 1 Without Fighting for the Title. “Whether I Can Still Win A Race Under Normal Circumstances This Year? No, I Don’t See Happening,” Verstappen Said After His Eighth-Place Finish in Qualifying in Hungary, The Last Grand Prix Before The Summer Break. “It Doessn’t Hurt Much, because I’m not participating in Anything Else Anyway.”
With ten Grands Prix to Go – Starting Next Weekend in Zandvoort – Verstappen is Almost A Hundred Points Behind WK Leader Oscar Piastri in Third Place. Lando Norris, Second Nine Points Behind His McLaren Teammate, is also Still Fully Involved in the Title Race.
The Fact That Verstappen is Still Third In The Championship would have Been A Minimal Objective in Previous Years. Now the Consolation Prize Means Little to Him. His Words in Hungary Underline That: The Final Standings Are Secondary in A Season in which the Bigger Picture Counts. He doesn’t care white he finishes third, fourth or fifth.
What Can Still Motivate Him Are Occasional Successes. Next Weekend Verstappen Awaits His Home Race, which is expected to be soaking law. On a Wet Zandvoort His Talent Can Still Make the Difference, even with a WAAKER RED BULL. A Victory in His own country would give this season Extra Shine: for the tens of thousands of fans in the stands, for the morale within red bull and for his own pleasure.
Verstappen Gave Clarity About the Future After Horner’s Departure
But Whether That Highlight Comes Now Or Not, Zandvoort Shows What 2025 Is About For Verstappen: Occasional Highlights Instead of A Title Hunt. And in the background, a lot is changing at red bull.
The Departure of Christian Horner was a break with the past, but Brought More Calm than Unrest Within the Stable. Laurent Mekies taught over the role of team boss and cool new direction with his technical background to a team that needed renwal due to disappointing results.
This transition Coincised With Speculation About Verstappen’s Future. Mercedes Openly Showed Interest: Team Boss Toto Wolff Confirmed That would like to Enlist The Dutchman and George Russell Avenue That His Contract Was not Extended because Mercedes Saw An Opportunity to Get Verstappen.
Verstappen himself was Silent About this for months. Despite A Contract Until the End Of 2028, Hey Did Not Want To Confirm For A Long Time That would Stay With Red Bull. Only after the change at the top, with mekies as the new team boss, Did Clarity Come. In Hungary Verstappen Stated that he Will Simply Drive for Red Bull in 2026.
Verstappen said that a departure was never an option for him anyway. In recent months, he and the team have spoken frequently about next year’s car, when the regulations will be completely overhauled. The Remaining Ten Races are More Important in That Light Than they Seem.
For Red Bull and Verstappen, these are weekends to understand where the current car falls short and what lessons can be learous for next year. Then the regulations will change dramatically and red bull will applear with its own power source, with support from ford. The Remainder of This Season is Therefore also about 2026.
In this way, 2025 Gets The Label of an Intermediate Year for Verstappen. No Title Hunt, But a Season of Preparation and occasional Successes. And Maybe Such a Success Will Come Next Weekend. A Victory in a Soaking Wet Zandvoort would Still give this intermediate year some more color.