Max Verstappen delivers clear message after Red Bull struggles

Max Verstappen has delivered a clear message that there remains a "lot to learn" in 2025 after Red Bull's struggles. 

The Dutchman is 97 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri, and is effectively out of the title fight unless the most remarkable comeback occurs. 

A fifth consecutive F1 drivers' title has been ruled out by Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, with him accepting it is not Verstappen's year. 

Verstappen is third in the standings but has failed to consistently challenge McLaren in the races, despite his best efforts to get amongst Piastri and Lando Norris in qualifying. 

Red Bull's race pace has been a major weakness, resulting in a frustration season so far for the reigning world champion. 

However, he remains confident that much can be gained from the current campaign, before next year's new power unit regulations are introduced.

"We always want to be better, and actually that was the same when we were winning," Verstappen told F1.com. "Now we're not winning that much.

"We just try to focus on understanding the car a bit better, where we can find our time, because of course next year there's new regulations, but I think there's still a lot to learn also this year."

Whilst Red Bull finds itself fourth in the constructors' standings, Verstappen is the only non-Red Bull driver to have won multiple races – the 27-year-old was victorious in Japan and Imola.

Winning races is all Verstappen has known in recent seasons, although he still remembers the start of his F1 career where that was not the case.

"I had many years before that where I didn't have a winning car, so that's Formula 1, and you know that, so it's not a very hard thing to do [compartmentalise and deal with]," he added."