Verstappen: Red Bull in 'learning mode' for 2025 in final F1 races
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Just days after clinching in Las Vegas his fourth F1 World Championship, Max Verstappen took a moment ahead of this weekend's Qatar Grand prix to reflect on his milestone achievement while also setting his sights on finishing the season strong and preparing for 2025.
A fifth-place finish in Sin City was enough to secure the Dutchman's title with two races to spare as he outpaced his closest rival, Lando Norris.
Speaking during Thursday's media day at Lusail, Verstappen opened up about his emotions and the challenges he and Red Bull faced in the 2024 campaign.
For the 27-year-old, who has been at the heart of the intense competition this season, the title came as a moment of relief and fulfillment.
"It was great, I was very happy with the season and then winning it in Vegas. For me, it was a very intense season so it was also very nice to celebrate it a little bit," the 27-year-old shared.
While each of his four titles holds a unique place in his journey, Verstappen acknowledged that this year's championship felt particularly satisfying given the challenges Red Bull faced in staying competitive against a resurgent McLaren and Ferrari.
"[My titles have] all been very different but I do think that this one was very rewarding, at the end of the day," he said.
"It's not always been the easiest for us as a team and to come away with that championship… I really felt it when I crossed the line in Vegas, I was like 'it's done'! It's been challenging at times, but I'm very proud of how we handled everything."
With Red Bull still mathematically in the hunt for the constructors' championship, though trailing third in the standings behind McLaren and Ferrari, Verstappen emphasized the importance of using the remaining races to learn and prepare for next season.
"To be honest, we're still going to try and learn a bit in these last few races, but I think we already have a lot of ideas and stuff that we want to change for next year," he explained. "Only time will tell if it's going to be competitive enough or not."
Verstappen also weighed in on the close battle among the top teams, but his focus remains firmly on the task at hand for Red Bull's future.
"At the moment it doesn't really do anything to me. I just try to do the best I can this end of the season and for next year we know that we have a lot of things that we have to improve on, and that's what we'll try to work on.
"Once we start next year we'll see where we are. It's not really something that I'm thinking about right now."
Red Bull's hopes of salvaging the constructors' title are slim but not entirely extinguished. Trailing McLaren by 53 points and Ferrari by 29, the team will need an extraordinary run of results – and luck – in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to overcome the gap.
For Verstappen, however, the focus is clearly on long-term improvement. His reflections on the 2024 season showcase both the joy of victory and the determination to push for more as Red Bull looks to bounce back stronger in 2025.
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