Max Verstappen manager addresses first F1 title defence failure: 'We keep going'

Max Verstappen's manager Raymond Vermeulen has suggested the Dutchman's camp is already focused on 2026 after his title defeat in Abu Dhabi.

Verstappen entered the season finale 12 points behind Norris in the standings and acknowledged he needed luck in order to bring home a fifth straight title.

Norris' third place was enough to see the Briton win the title, marking McLaren's first drivers' championship triumph since 2008.

After significantly closing the gap in the final rounds of the year, Verstappen's manager admitted it needed a couple of more races to seal the job.

“The season was very long, but we needed a few more races,” Vermeulen exclusively told RacingNews365.

“We were we were out of the fight much earlier, so it was a bonus card to fight until the last race.

“But it was done around summertime. So chapeau to the team, and well done to Max to keep the fight going until the last race.

“Max did everything right. He was on pole position, he won the race. The McLaren was very strong again.”

Norris was feeling pressure for a handful of laps from Charles Leclerc, who threatened to drop Norris out of the title-winning positions.

However, Vermeulen theorised that if Leclerc moved ahead of Norris, a team order at McLaren would have likely been made to restore the Briton to a title-winning position.

“A lot of people say it [only a two-point margin] but even if Charles or whoever was getting close, I think Piastri was [going to be] asked to swap,” he said.

“It was a bit lost anyway. The McLaren was strong. They executed it well, and it was not enough for us.”

With a short winter break now commencing ahead of a new era for the sport in 2026, Vermeulen added: “We can live with it, we keep going. And next year, it’s race on again.”