Verstappen Critiques McLaren After Winning The Japanese Grand Prix In 2025

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Max Verstappen celebrated his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix by taking a playful jab at McLaren. He finished ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, marking his first win of the season. Verstappen secured pole position on Saturday, breaking a streak of 15 races without one. He humorously remarked that if he had been driving a McLaren, he would have been unbeatable.

Despite his success, Verstappen has previously mentioned that this year's Red Bull car isn't among the best in Formula One. Speaking to Dutch TV station ViaPlay, he expressed satisfaction with his performance but joked about the potential dominance he could have achieved in a McLaren. "I'm very happy with what I'm doing," he stated. "I don't even want to think about if I'd been in that other car [McLaren]. Then you wouldn't have seen me!"

Starting from pole was crucial for Verstappen this weekend, especially as McLaren seemed faster but couldn't make a move due to DRS limitations. Reflecting on his unexpected win, he admitted that victory wasn't anticipated when arriving or after Friday's sessions.

Verstappen is now just one point behind Norris in the driver standings. When asked by ESPN about his performance in what many consider an inferior vehicle compared to previous years, he acknowledged feeling special about it. "Yeah, it [feels special]. It means that I really care," he said.

Red Bull's challenging start to the season led to replacing Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda finished 12th in his home race on Sunday. Verstappen noted that their performance hasn't met expectations but remains focused on improving. "You know, we are not where we want to be in terms of performance," he admitted.

Verstappen emphasised staying neutral amidst both praise and criticism, concentrating solely on personal performance and continuous effort. "I don't listen to the positives and the negatives," he explained. "I'm just in the middle, you know, so I just focus on my own performances."

The victory at the Japanese Grand Prix highlights Verstappen's resilience and determination despite challenges faced by Red Bull this season. His ability to secure pole position and win reflects his skill and commitment to maintaining competitiveness in Formula One racing.