Four-time world champion Max Verstappen admitted he was surprised by the surge of fan support he received towards the end of the 2025 season, as he chased his fifth consecutive Formula 1 title.
The Dutchman ultimately fell short, finishing two points behind new world champion Lando Norris, but still managed to win over a significant portion of the fanbase with his driving after the summer break. His late-season charge allowed him to erase a deficit of over 100 points to the top spot in the overall standings, triumphing in six of the final nine races of the season, including the concluding three in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
“I was surprised,” Verstappen confessed on Red Bull’s official podcast. “I was in the underdog position, so it’s normal for people to start supporting me a bit more. But I guess they finally started to understand who I really am. I don’t try to be a fake person in the paddock. I’m just not like that. In Formula 1, when you’re very successful, it’s easy to forget that. That’s why it’s important to always have close people around you who will tell you when you start acting strangely. I’m lucky to have such a great family, but also very good friends,” the Red Bull driver added.