Verstappen reflects on his bond with emotional 'GP' after rollercoaster year

Responding to a question about their relationship after narrowly missing out on the drivers’ title, the Red Bull driver was quick to commend the character and resilience of the 45-year-old.

“It's been an emotional year, I think, in that sense. Forget about the results this year. I don't want to go too much into detail, but it's been tough,” he said during his post-race press conference.

He went on to highlight how their partnership has grown beyond a traditional driver-engineer relationship, evolving into a genuine friendship.

“I'm very happy to be able to work with someone that passionate. He's my race engineer, but I see him as my friend. We have lived through so many emotional things together and fantastic achievements. I'm sure that he was a bit emotional after the flag,” he added.

The four-time world champion concluded by expressing his admiration for GP’s attitude and commitment throughout what he described as a challenging season.

“I'm actually looking forward to leaving here and going to chat with him. It's not been easy at times for him. I'm just very proud to be able to work with someone as good as well and, again, also a proper example of someone who never gave up this season, even through the difficult times,” he concluded.

Earlier, Verstappen lauded the Red Bull Racing outfit for their efforts despite missing out on the 2025 drivers' crown.

The Dutch driver, over his team radio, highlighted how impressed he was with the team’s resurgence, particularly in the second half of the season.

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