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Despite winning in Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen had to hand the #1 to new world champion Lando Norris.
Red Bull motorsport director Helmut Marko admitted that Max Verstappen’s narrow defeat in the title race was painful. Verstappen clinched victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position, but Lando Norris’s third-place finish secured the championship.
Verstappen narrowly missed out on his fifth consecutive title, ending his streak and falling just two points short. The gap closing during the season gave Red Bull hope, amplifying the disappointment of the defeat.
Marko highlighted that Verstappen lost crucial points across several races, including setbacks in Barcelona and the Austrian GP. Despite this, Marko acknowledged Norris as a deserving world champion.
Looking ahead, Marko emphasized that Red Bull and Verstappen are prepared for the upcoming season with new power unit regulations. Their goal is to bounce back from the loss and build a competitive team, drawing motivation from the new regulations.
