“Things have to improve” at Red Bull to turn four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen into a five-time champion, according to his father Jos.
Christian Horner said following the Dutchman’s title celebrations at the Las Vegas Grand Prix that “It’s down to us to deliver and I’m sure that we’ll provide him a car that he can fight again for the championship next year.”
For the majority of this season, the Red Bull RB20 was not the car to deliver a title and Verstappen had to fight hard to clinch his fourth crown, a 10-race winless run between the Spanish and Sao Paulo GPs highlighting his issues.
Father Jos, who is a regular critic of Red Bull and its team boss Horner, also spoke of the need for things to improve at the Milton Keynes outfit.
Responding to 2025 title prospects on the official Max Verstappen website, Jos said “Nobody can answer that.
“Of course, we hope that he can, but he’s not in the fastest car, otherwise he would win all the races.
“Things have to improve to be competitive next year. The team knows what needs to change, so it’s up to them to get it together.”
Brazil GP sealed Verstappen the title
After a strong start to the 2024 campaign, which saw Red Bull carry over its 2023 dominance and win four of the first five races, Verstappen saw challengers emerge.
McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes started winning races aplenty from the Miami GP onwards.
Verstappen’s father explained that he wasn’t “always positive” that the title would be secured this year, but that all changed in Brazil when the Red Bull ace charged from 17th to first at a wet Interlagos circuit.
“We had a lead, but it all depended on the development of the car,” said Jos.
“I wasn’t always positive, but Max showed everyone what he’s made off, especially in Brazil.
“What he did there was unreal and really won him this title.”
Jos’ pessimism carried over to the Las Vegas GP, which he watched early in the day from home amid a bout of flu.
“I was nervous, I woke up at four in the morning and couldn’t sleep”, he said.
“There is always that tension, but he did it. Maybe not in the way Max would’ve wanted it, but the main thing is that he did.
“I wasn’t feeling great; I had a bit of a flu. So I’d rather stay away so I don’t pass it on to Max.
“There’s also the time difference and I’m having to do some prep for a race myself.”
READ MORE – Red Bull ‘not confident’ about title prospects with 2025 F1 car
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