Max Verstappen Insists Underdog Role in 2025 F1 Title Fight “Felt Nice”

Max Verstappen claimed that it was nice being the underdog for a change in the 2025 season.

Max Verstappen Insists Underdog Role in 2025 F1 Title Fight “Felt Nice”

Max Verstappen (via Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen remained one of the most talked-about drivers in the paddock in 2025 despite losing the driver’s title. The Dutchman put forth one of the greatest seasons in the history of Formula 1 and achieved a stellar comeback on track. As such, Verstappen opened up on how he felt being the underdog and nearly beating Lando Norris for the championship win.

Red Bull and Max Verstappen suffered from massive performance issues throughout the 2025 season. Still, Verstappen managed to pick up the most race wins despite McLaren’s dominance. The Dutchman was met with cheers, and the crowd loved seeing him on the podium as compared to the boos hurled at Lando Norris and Co.

As such, Max Verstappen noted that being the underdog and being loved by the fans certainly felt nice to him. The four-time champion highlighted that everything happened naturally for him, and he did not have to sway people’s opinion of him. Verstappen pointed out that it was better to have people cheer for him than boo.

Max Verstappen accepted that it was more enjoyable being the underdog in the 2025 season rather than being the dominant factor. The 28-year-old reckoned that the latter half was more enjoyable, as he was able to pick up five of the seven victories over the year. Despite a comeback from a point deficit of 104 points to just two points, Verstappen still felt that the record-breaking 2023 season was his favorite.

Yeah, I guess when you’re a bit of an underdog, probably that happens a bit naturally, but it is nice. It’s nice to have people cheering instead of booing or whatever. Sometimes [being the underdog] was enjoyable. The second half was more enjoyable than the first half. But for me, ’23 is still my favourite season.

Max Verstappen said on the Fast and the Curious podcast.

Max Verstappen reassures ‘not changed as a person’ in Formula 1

At the beginning of his career back in 2016, Max Verstappen was one of the more polarizing personalities on the grid. The Dutchman was hated upon following his dominant days in Formula 1, which saw its peak during the 2023 season when Verstappen won 19 out of the 22 races. Despite the newfound love from the fans, the four-time champion reassured that his personality remained unchanged and he did not have to change himself for others to like him.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Max Verstappen declared that he had not changed as a person and was the same person he was a decade back. However, he was viewed differently by the people because he wasn’t winning as many races anymore. It was important for Verstappen not to change his ways despite his winning condition, and hence, people respected him because of this.

Honestly, I’ve not changed as a person, It’s just that you are in a different role naturally because you’re not winning as many races as we did before. But at the end of the day, for me, it’s more important. Did I change? No, I didn’t. So that’s the only thing that I can really say about that.

Max Verstappen noted.

The 2026 season will put forth a completely new challenge for Max Verstappen as Red Bull partners with Ford for the power units in the challenger. The team has put forth some promising performances during the private testing in Barcelona. As such, it will be interesting to witness which role Verstappen takes on under the new regulations and keep up with his winning pace.

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