Following the disastrous Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen made headlines, not for what he said—but what he refused to say. When approached by Viaplay after the race, his short, sharp answers reflected the weight of frustration he’s carrying into what is shaping up to be a far more competitive 2025 season.

During the buildup to the Japanese Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen was lamenting a lack of confidence in the RB21 McLaren seemed to have the dominant package, as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took turns topping the timing sheets.