Team boss Verstappen? He’d always run a clear No.1

Max Verstappen has never been shy with his opinions, and his latest take on team management is as sharp as a late-braking maneuver into Turn 1.

As the dust settles on a 2025 season that saw Red Bull’s second seat become a literal revolving door, the Dutchman has come forward with a spicy "I told you so" regarding McLaren’s egalitarian approach to racing.

While the rest of the paddock viewed Verstappen’s solitary fight against the twin-pronged attack of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as a tactical nightmare, Max sees it differently. To him, being the lone wolf wasn't a handicap – it was a license to hunt.

“When you're on your own, you can go on the attack, you can be much more aggressive. I always prefer that,” he told Viaplay.

“Look, if you're a bit equal with the car, then I wish both [McLaren drivers] good luck, because then you can really decide it amongst yourselves.”

Flying Solo: A Surprising Advantage

Verstappen’s solo role was not exactly by design. Red Bull had struggled to find stability in its second seat in 2025.

Liam Lawson’s inconsistent performances led to his replacement by Yuki Tsunoda, who himself struggled to deliver consistent results and has now been relegated to a reserve role for 2026, with Isack Hadjar stepping in.

With Tsunoda out of the championship picture, Verstappen faced the daunting task of fending off the twin McLaren threat alone. Yet, he claims that being the sole Red Bull at the front actually worked to his advantage.

“Because McLaren had two drivers, they gave away some things with their strategy. So, of course, we benefited from that too,” Verstappen said.

• Read also: Verstappen’s striking claim: ‘We’re all finding illegal performance’

He also made his philosophy as a hypothetical team principal crystal clear:

"If I were a team boss, I would always put a clear number one and two in place," he said. "Of course, a number two who still scores enough points to compete for the constructors' title. But a clear number one and two."

Mastering the Mind Game

Verstappen pointed out that McLaren’s equal treatment of Norris and Piastri created openings that he could exploit, as the two teammates often took points off each other.

By contrast, having a single, unambiguous frontrunner allowed him to attack without restraint and control the narrative of the championship chase.

Whether this is a genuine tactical philosophy or a bit of psychological warfare aimed at his rivals for 2026, one thing is clear: Verstappen has no interest in sharing the spotlight – or the strategy.

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