Red Bull writes off the season: what can Verstappen do without (good) updates?

Only a few adjustments to the bodywork will take place in the short term, no further updates are to be expected and the focus shifts entirely to 2026, as this site already reported.

Meanwhile, it has also leaked to international media that Red Bull is trying one last time to turn the tide with changes. However, the message that Red Bull isn't giving up on ‘25 is a bit overstated.

As already reported by GPblog, it concerns adjustments to the bodywork. Are these 'updates' with which Verstappen can systematically compete for Grand Prix wins? That's not to be expected, as the gap to McLaren is too big. Moreover, that team will also bring updates in the coming weeks.

With the adjustments in Spa and Budapest, it's mainly a matter of Red Bull not losing more ground rather than catching up. But there's more: Red Bull also wants to show Verstappen that it knows what it's doing, after having made more steps backwards than forwards in terms of the car's development over the past one and a half years.

During the upcoming period, it's mainly important for the Austrian racing team to give Max Verstappen a good feeling and confidence for the future. If that leads to a few wins, so much the better.

Because although they met one of Verstappen's conditions by parting ways with Christian Horner as team principal, having a car that can compete for titles is really the most important thing.

Will Verstappen still win the world championship in 2025? While Helmut Marko recently stated that this is still the goal, it's not realistic - and Verstappen knows it. The main advice is to finish the season and look ahead to the next one. If the updates in the coming weeks at least help a little, then the upcoming months will at least not be too painful for the (still) reigning champion