Red Bull 'hurting' after Max Verstappen F1 title defeat

Red Bull motorsport director Helmut Marko conceded Max Verstappen's title defeat "hurts", having fallen just two points short. 

Verstappen converted pole position into victory with ease in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; however, Lando Norris finished in third to secure a maiden drivers' title. 

It meant that Verstappen missed out on a record-equalling fifth consecutive crown and was dethroned for the first time in his F1 career. 

In the end, the Dutchman fell just two points short of the championship, despite having been 104 points adrift after the Dutch GP. The gap decreasing gave Red Bull belief, making the defeat more painful.

"With each race, our gap became smaller," Marko told Servus TV. "That created a kind of euphoria and a real flow. But the big problem was that McLaren and Max were SO strong. 

"No Ferrari, no Mercedes could do anything against that. And precisely those teams we needed as support. Two points... That hurts."

Despite falling two points short, Verstappen did lose points across multiple races. In Barcelona, his red rage cost him major points, as did the Austrian GP where he was hit by Kimi Antonelli. 

Marko is aware that Verstappen lost points at crucial moments, but took nothing away from Norris being a deserving world champion.

"If you then look back: Budapest was unfortunately a very weak weekend from us," added Marko. "In Barcelona Max also had his moment, and then there was the crash at the Red Bull Ring.

"Anyway, McLaren also had problems and mistakes. In the end, you have to say Lando is a worthy world champion."

Verstappen might have lost the #1, but the 28-year-old and Red Bull are ready to go again next season, when the new power unit regulations are introduced.

"The knowledge is there for 2026," insisted Marko. "We are technically able to build a competitive team, and we are also able to make up ground again if we have taken a wrong turn in development, for example. 

"And that is a very important motivation for next year, with new chassis regulations and new engine regulations."