Max Verstappen’s rivals will be worried after revealing the skill he keeps improving behind the scenes

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Max Verstappen will need a new number on his Red Bull going into the 2026 Formula 1 season after finally relinquishing his grasp on the drivers’ championship for the first time in five years.

Despite an incredible comeback in the final third of last season, Max Verstappen was denied a fifth consecutive title by McLaren rival Lando Norris.

Red Bull watched their papaya rivals storm away for much of the season, with Verstappen’s P9 in Hungary the nadir as Norris secured an unlikely victory thanks to an alternative strategy.

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What followed was nearly the greatest comeback in Formula 1 history, with Verstappen making up 102 points after his home race in Zandvoort.

On top of his Formula 1 antics, Verstappen also won his first GT3 race and became a father, and it was clear during the Abu Dhabi weekend that winning championships was no longer the be-all and end-all that it was for Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The 28-year-old has now spoken about the improvements he made behind the scenes in 2025, which won’t fill his rivals with much confidence heading into next season.

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Max Verstappen reveals that he does ‘more now than I used to’ in preparation for F1 races

In an interview with Formule1 NL, Verstappen was asked about last season. He said: “It’s always important to say what’s going well and what’s going badly, regardless of how a weekend goes in sporting terms.

“I do that more now than I used to, which makes sense. Gradually, you get to know more people, you get to know the team better, you know who is responsible for what, you gain more experience, and you understand much better what the car does and what can be adjusted.

“That’s actually a natural process. And, of course, you have to know what you’re talking about.”

Asked if he finds it difficult to push the team around him to follow his lead and go the extra mile, Verstappen continued: “I don’t see it that way. It’s mainly a matter of being clear with each other.

“Pointing out what was good and what wasn’t, what needs to be adjusted and what doesn’t. I always say: if it’s good, it’s good, and that needs to be said.

“But if it’s bad, that needs to be said too. That certainly applies to me as well. If I do something badly, that definitely needs to be said.”

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Max Verstappen doubles down on 2025 McLaren championship claim

Verstappen claimed towards the end of the campaign, as the pressure began to mount on his McLaren rivals, that if he were in a papaya car, he would already be world champion.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown hinted at why he would never sign Verstappen, but plenty of F1 fans would likely agree with his sentiment that if he were in the fastest car, he would have no trouble securing a fifth title.

The four-time world champion was asked about those comments and said: “Haha, but that’s just a fact!

“It’s not meant to be provocative. Not consciously or unconsciously. It’s just a fact. And no one has to agree with that, but that’s how I feel about it.

“That’s my opinion. Some people won’t like to hear it, but ultimately that’s not my problem. I’m not saying it to rile anyone up or provoke them, but when I’m asked a question, I usually just answer it. And yes, it’s a fact.”

Some of Verstappen’s closest rivals would have been hoping that becoming a father and running his own GT3 team would potentially distract him from his F1 endeavours.

He’s made it clear in the past that he’s not overly attached to spending his entire career in Formula 1, but the level of self-improvement he continues to make will only make him harder to beat.

Toto Wolff has hinted at why Verstappen might be even more difficult to beat in 2026, which means it ultimately comes down to how competitive Red Bull will be next season as to whether the Dutch anthem will regularly be played on the podium throughout the upcoming campaign.