With two races remaining in the 2024 Formula 1 season, discussions have already shifted to whether Max Verstappen can secure his fifth consecutive drivers' championship in 2025.
While Verstappen clinched his fourth title with two races to spare, Red Bull's performance this year was far from dominant. The season began strongly, but internal team struggles, high-profile staff departures, and stalled car development made Verstappen's journey more challenging.
"Max can make the difference in some races with his talent, and that is a big advantage for a team and of course for the championship," said four-time world champion Alain Prost, speaking to L'Equipe.
"So I would always put him as favourite for next season, but the other teams now know that Red Bull can be beaten. Next year will be a completely different story."
Prost highlighted that the upcoming 2025 season will be unique, as it marks the final year under the current regulations. "The differences between the teams are getting smaller," Prost noted. "Max really had to fight to win it this year, showing a lot of special things.
"He has so much self-confidence and so much calm. Even when he complains a bit, he delivers time and time again and gets less and less angry. He really showed that he is a true champion."
Prost also praised Verstappen's ability to remain composed amidst rumors of a potential move to Mercedes and Red Bull's internal issues.
"I don't know what his future holds, but even in the way he communicates, amidst all those rumours about moving to Mercedes and the problems at Red Bull, he made a very strong impression," Prost said. "He is very good in all areas with no weaknesses."
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko echoed the sentiment that Verstappen's title win this year was more about the driver than the car.
"We have seen a new Max Verstappen," Marko told ORF. "A Max Verstappen who works with the team. He positioned himself as a leader to bring the team back together.
"It was new that we had a car that could no longer be at the front in terms of speed, but Verstappen could still be there."
Dutch commentator Olav Mol also weighed in, telling Ziggo Sport: "We cannot talk about the Red Bull. We have to talk about Max in that Red Bull. That is why he is so proud of this one, because it is more about Max than about the car.
"He showed that the driver behind the wheel is much more important than we usually think."
Looking ahead, Marko acknowledged Red Bull's responsibility to provide Verstappen with a more stable and competitive car.
"For the fifth title, we just have to give him the right car, and then Max will do it," he said. "A car that is not as temperamental as the current one. A car that is consistently at the front."
Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos believes Verstappen's long-term future at Red Bull is uncertain. "It will be difficult for Christian Horner to keep Max on board," Doornbos said. "You can't expect Red Bull to suddenly have a completely different concept next year.
"Max can ask for it, but believe me—he will no longer be at Red Bull in 2026."
Doornbos suggested that Verstappen might be uneasy about Red Bull's in-house engine project with Ford, set to debut with the 2026 regulations.
"What you'll need in 2026 is a cannon of an engine, like Lewis Hamilton had for seven years," Doornbos explained. "That Mercedes wasn't the best car aerodynamically or mechanically. It was the engine. I think that's what you need in 2026."
Speculating about Verstappen's future, Doornbos added: "Maybe he'll stop next year, and then he'll be happy with five titles. But if he goes to Mercedes and feels that he has the package to win more titles, why not seven or eight world titles and an absolute record?"
