Max from Austin: 'If the car is quick enough for top positions, I'll be there'
Published on 16 October 2025 by Misha van der Kroon
During Thursday’s press conference in Austin, Max Verstappen spoke about his chances in the title fight and the strength of his rivals this season. He also reflected on the invaluable support of his father, Jos: “He shaped me into who I am today.”
With six races remaining, Verstappen faces a 63-point deficit to Oscar Piastri in the championship standings. Having claimed the title with dominance over the past three seasons, this year’s battle looks different, but the Dutchman remains unfazed. “I see every race weekend as an opportunity to win,” he says matter-of-factly.
Recent results have given him confidence, though Max knows there’s still room for improvement: “The last three weekends have been very nice, some better than others. In Singapore, we didn’t maximise the potential of the car, but we’ve analysed that. This weekend we’ll try to do better. Austin is a great track to drive, and I’m curious to see what we can do.”
When asked about his title chances, Max stays light-hearted. When asked for a percentage, he laughs: “Fifty-fifty. You win, or you don’t.” Looking ahead to the final stretch of the season, he adds: “It’s not guaranteed that the car will work everywhere. We take it race by race and fine-tune everything each weekend. For much of the season, we weren’t really in the championship fight, but lately we’ve had some strong results. And if the car is quick enough to fight for top positions, I’ll be there. It’s that simple.”
Unlike in previous seasons, when he approached the final races with a comfortable lead, Max now faces a catch-up race. Still, he doesn’t feel the pressure: “Of course, it’s nicer to be in front, but I see every race as an opportunity to win. And if we don’t, we don’t. It’s not that dramatic, it doesn’t put any pressure on me. It helps that I’ve already won before.”
Within Oracle Red Bull Racing, the atmosphere remains positive, according to Max. The team’s recent results have boosted confidence. “It’s a good atmosphere. We’re understanding much more what the car can do and how it needs to be driven.” At the same time, he acknowledges the strength of the competition: “McLaren are still quite strong in the medium-speed corners, that is still the strength of their car. The rest depends on the circuit and conditions.”
Toward the end of the press conference, the topic turns to his father, Jos Verstappen. According to the World Champion, Jos’s influence on his career has been immense. “I have so many great memories,” says Max. “The most impressive thing is his knowledge of racing, tuning, and setting up cars and go-karts. He taught me that from a very young age. That shaped me into who I am today, not just as a driver, but also in terms of knowledge.”
That knowledge continues to be valuable to this day. “We still discuss so much of these things: Formula 1 cars, his rally cars, my GT3 team. I don’t think he wants to be one, but he’d make a good team boss because of his technical understanding of the car, and the way he sees how things can be faster and better,” Max smiles. What stands out most to him, however, is his father’s dedication: “He gave up so many years and paused his own career so that I could race. He gave 110 percent. I’ve never seen someone that committed to giving his son the best opportunities.”
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