Max Verstappen says he was taken aback by the reaction he received from fans during the 2025 Formula 1 season, admitting he did not expect to win people over in the way he did.
The four-time World Champion has long commanded a huge global following, but his most dominant years also brought regular boos on podiums, as fans craved variety at the front.
In 2025, the story shifted. Red Bull no longer held a clear advantage, and Verstappen spent much of the year fighting from behind.
Following his home race at Zandvoort, Verstappen trailed the championship leader by 104 points.
A strong recovery across the final races brought him back into the fight by Abu Dhabi, but Lando Norris ultimately sealed his first title.
Despite missing out by two points, Verstappen drew praise for consistently outperforming both McLaren drivers in the closing third of the season.
Reflecting on the change in perception, Verstappen admitted the support caught him off guard, telling Red Bull’s Talking Bull podcast: “I mean, surprising.
“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.”
Verstappen suggested that stepping away from a position of dominance may have helped fans see a different side of him.
He also stressed that he has never tried to project an image for approval.
“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 addressed.
The Dutchman added that staying grounded matters most when success fades, crediting his inner circle for keeping him balanced.
“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, 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,” he explained.
“And I am very lucky that, of course, I have great family, but also really good friends.”
Verstappen not chasing records or statistics
Verstappen has repeatedly said the outcome of the 2025 title fight did not weigh heavily on him.
He expanded on that mindset by downplaying the importance of career statistics and championships.
“Just people in general take life way too serious, especially also with your profession,” he continued.
“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.”
Looking further ahead, Verstappen questioned how much his final title count would really matter to him.
“And then, 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]?
“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.”
That perspective, he believes, is key to longevity and peace of mind.
“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.
“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!”
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