Max Verstappen stated that competing against both McLaren drivers in the 2025 Formula 1 championship as the sole Red Bull entry proved beneficial instead of detrimental.
For the 2025 season, Red Bull made another attempt to resolve its ongoing issue with the second driver’s seat; however, following a couple of subpar race weekends, Liam Lawson was swiftly swapped out for Yuki Tsunoda.
Tsunoda, the Japanese competitor, also had difficulty maintaining consistent performance and outcomes, leading to his reassignment to a reserve position for 2026, with Red Bull opting for Isack Hadjar as his replacement.
Consequently, Verstappen found himself singularly contending against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from McLaren, initiating an improbable championship resurgence during the latter portion of the season.
Despite Tsunoda not being a leading contender who could offer Red Bull more tactical options, Verstappen believes that operating as the solitary frontrunner ultimately benefited him.
He elaborated to Viaplay, stating, “Being by yourself allows you to be offensive and considerably more assertive. I always favor that approach.” He added, “If the cars are somewhat evenly matched, then I wish both [McLaren drivers] the best, as they can then truly settle it between themselves.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Verstappen highlighted that Norris and Piastri were effectively siphoning points from each other in their rivalry with him, and McLaren’s policy of treating both drivers equally made strategic decisions more intricate. For this reason, he stated that if he were a team principal, he would consistently assign a lead driver.
The four-time world champion clarified, saying, “As a team manager, I would invariably establish a distinct hierarchy of first and second drivers.”
“Naturally, a second driver who still accumulates sufficient points to contend for the constructors’ championship. However, there would be an unmistakable primary and secondary driver.
“Since McLaren operated with two drivers, they sacrificed certain advantages with their tactical decisions. Consequently, we naturally gained from that situation as well.”
