Is Verstappen Wasting Time Battling His Team?
Who expected the McLarens to come out so strong in the 2025 season? Of the twelve podium positions available for a single team to earn thus far, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have secured ten of them. One driver not content with shifting track dominance is four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. Max has had several critical moments of battle with the McLarens in efforts to defend his position. Yet, given his performance on the track so far, we have to wonder if this strategy wastes more time. The result is costing him podiums, and by extension, the World Championship.
Verstappen has made it to the podium in three of the six races. By this time last year, he had already secured five. Certainly, Red Bull’s ‘evolution’ of the RB21 Challenger takes some credit for this sluggish change. Yet, Verstappen’s racing style would provide some additional explanation.
The battles between Verstappen and McLaren are an on-track phenomenon only. The Dutch driver has been vocal about his respect for the McLaren team and their performance this year. At Miami, after he unsuccessfully attempted to battle off the papaya’s advancement, Verstappen stated that he “had nothing to lose, so I just tried to have a bit of fun out there as well at the same time.” He’s furthered his admiration, even calling the team “incredible.”
Verstappen’s most recent battle with McLaren occurred over the weekend in Miami, but it's been a trend all season. Far be it from any mere mortal to tell the World Champion how to drive his car, but Verstappen’s red-bullish insistence to defend his position at all costs is what allows McLaren differential FIA treatment, and the lead car to gain multiple seconds ahead of the pack. In Saudi Arabia, Verstappen’s call to claim T1 against McLaren forced him off the track, allowing him to pass and take first place. The five-second penalty was worth the advantage of securing the lead, which allowed him clean air to preserve his tires. This is Verstappen’s style. The defending instinct is in this blood. Yet, without the car or teammate the papayas have, is Verstappen’s insistence on battling McLaren a real strategy, or a last-ditch effort to reclaim a title that is slipping away?
