Jos Verstappen pinpoints the moment Max Verstappen’s ‘enthusiasm’ returned at Red Bull in 2025

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Max Verstappen produced a sensational comeback in the second half of 2025 to recover from what was a turbulent start to the year.

The four-time champion came into the season knowing that McLaren had the upper hand over Red Bull. But he would soon learn how far ahead they actually were as he struggled to handle the RB21’s sensitive nature.

Verstappen complained about the car’s setup and subsequent upgrades that were brought to mitigate the problems. As McLaren pulled further away, his frustrations grew, which led to speculation that he could quit the team.

Mercedes pushed to sign Verstappen amid rumours of an exit clause in his contract. While the move did not materialise, it was clear that Red Bull had to make changes to please their star driver.

Sure enough, swift changes were made as Christian Horner was sacked as team principal in July. The exact reason for his departure has never been disclosed, but many suspect that Verstappen’s father, Jos, had a part to play in that.

Jos Verstappen pinpoints Monza as the moment he ‘sensed’ Max Verstappen was happy again at Red Bull

Verstappen Snr had a known feud with Horner during his time at Red Bull. He was not happy with the team’s trajectory under his leadership, and their regression at the start of 2025 would prove he was right to be worried.

Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies replaced Horner for the second half of the season and instantly looked to change the atmosphere around the team. Verstappen was given more freedom behind the scenes with technical feedback, and it paid dividends.

Red Bull continued to develop the RB21 to try and catch McLaren, and the Dutchman put himself in the title hunt with six wins in the last 10 races. He missed out on Lando Norris by two points, but it was clear that the team had changed for the better.

Jos says Max is having fun again at Red Bull under the new regime, and he has pinpointed the exact moment his mentality changed. He recalled a call he had in Monza where the four-time champion explained that his problems had been finally solved.

Jos told Formule1.nl: “Actually, the moment Max called me from Monza and said: ‘Dad, I think we’ve found the problem’. The enthusiasm I sensed then… I heard it directly from him.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Jos Verstappen was key to Max Verstappen’s comeback in 2025

It may not have felt like it at the time, but as it would turn out, Jos Verstappen was the unlikely saviour for Max Verstappen’s season.

It was claimed that the former F1 driver had pushed for Red Bull to sack Horner, a decision that proved to be necessary. It changed the team’s atmosphere for the better and gave Verstappen the chance to win another championship.

Mekies reversed Horner’s plans for 2025 and continued to develop the car. With better machinery, Verstappen took the fight to Norris and Oscar Piastri, putting them under immense pressure, but ultimately missed out on the title.

With the feel-good vibe back at Red Bull, the Dutchman is back in a position to challenge for the crown. It needed to return, as the 2026 F1 regulations mark a major change for the team, becoming an engine supplier for the first time.