Max Verstappen has spent much of his Formula 1 career being admired, feared, and – in equal measure – booed. Dominance does that.
But in 2025, something unexpected happened: the four-time world champion found himself cast not as the immovable force at the front, but as the hunter. And to his surprise, the crowd seemed to like that version of Max very much.
After years of being the man fans wanted toppled, Verstappen says the shift in public sentiment caught him off guard. Red Bull no longer had the field covered, victories were harder-earned, and the Dutchman spent most of the season fighting uphill.
Somewhere along the way, the boos softened – and the cheers grew louder.
From Dominator to Underdog
By the time Formula 1 arrived at Zandvoort, Verstappen’s home race, the championship picture looked bleak. He trailed the points leader by a daunting 104 points, and Red Bull’s once-invincible aura had cracked.
What followed, however, was a relentless comeback that dragged him back into title contention by Abu Dhabi, even if Lando Norris ultimately clinched his first world championship by the slimmest of margins.
Verstappen may have lost the title by two points, but his late-season form – consistently outperforming both McLaren drivers in the closing third of the year – earned widespread respect. And that, he admits, changed how people looked at him.
“I mean, surprising,” Verstappen said on Red Bull’s Talking Bull podcast as he addressed the change of perception.
“I think naturally, of course, with an underdog role, people will start to support you a bit more, but I guess maybe they finally start to realise who I am – who I really am.”
For a driver often painted as blunt, ruthless, or emotionally detached, the idea that fans were “finally” seeing the real Max felt like a quiet vindication.
No Image, No Act
Verstappen believes stepping away from outright dominance allowed a different side of his personality to come through – not because he changed, but because circumstances did.
Crucially, he insists that none of it was calculated.
“I mean, it works for me. It’s how I want to be, I don’t try to be a fake person in the paddock or whatever, that’s just not how I am,” he said.
That authenticity, Verstappen argues, has always been there. What matters more to him is staying grounded when success fades – something he credits to the people around him.
“Especially, of course, in F1, when you have a lot of success, or in general, you’re doing well, it’s easy to maybe forget about that,” he explained.
“But that’s why it’s very important to have always the most important people around you that actually do tell you if you’re maybe acting a bit out or weird.
“And I am very lucky that, of course, I have great family, but also really good friends.”
It’s a reminder that while Verstappen’s on-track persona can feel impenetrable, his off-track compass is firmly set by a small, trusted inner circle.
Title Tally Won't Define Him
Perhaps the most revealing part of Verstappen’s reflection is how little the 2025 title defeat seems to trouble him. He has repeatedly downplayed its importance – and his explanation offers a glimpse into why pressure seems to slide off him so easily.
“Just people in general take life way too serious, especially also with your profession,” he said.
“I mean, yeah, it is super important to do a good job, but the end of the day, I mean, you do that to what? Maybe 40? I mean, that’s not even the average, right?
“[There are] some extraordinary drivers that stay in it a little bit longer, but after you still have a lot of years to enjoy or do something else in your life.”
©RedBull
Looking even further ahead, Verstappen questioned whether his final tally of championships would matter at all.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what you have done, like, when I’m going to be 50 years old, 60 years old, do you think I care if I’ve won four or seven [titles]?” he insisted.
“I mean, what is that going to matter to my life? You know, I’m still going to order the same drink. I’m still going to eat the same food, it’s not going to change what I’m going to do after in my life.”
For Verstappen, perspective is the ultimate performance tool – and stress the real enemy.
“So, that’s why I tried to also just look at it a lot more in a relaxed way. Just don’t stress about it,” he concluded.
“Stress is very bad for you, and you’re going to die sooner if you have a lot of stress, so I’m going to be 250 years old!”
In a season where Max Verstappen didn’t win everything, many F1 fans may have gained a better understanding – and appreciation – of who he really is. It was about time.
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