P1racenews AI automatic summary:
RacingNews365 were joined by former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski to discuss all things 2025, starting with Max Verstappen’s title defence failure.
In the RacingNews365 Podcast, former Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski mentioned Max Verstappen’s “demons” as a contributing factor to him failing to secure a fifth consecutive F1 drivers’ title.
Despite an impressive comeback where Verstappen won seven of the final nine races, his earlier struggles and occasional lapses in judgment proved costly.
Issues with Red Bull’s competitiveness in certain races, such as Hungary, hindered Verstappen’s championship bid.
Even though his aggressive tactics, like the incident with George Russell in Barcelona, resulted in penalties, those were not the sole reasons for his title loss.
Budkowski acknowledged that all three title contenders in Abu Dhabi were deserving champions, with Lando Norris ultimately clinching the crown.
Verstappen’s competitive spirit and desire for more championships were evident, illustrating his strong determination as a top driver in Formula 1.
