What Max Verstappen went through in F1 2025 changed him, as Red Bull united around him, generating an aura, like Michael Schumacher had.<\/p>\n
That is the opinion of Ralf Schumacher, the six-time Grand Prix winner and Michael\u2019s brother. Verstappen<\/a> and Red Bull nearly completed the ultimate title comeback mission, a turnaround in which Ralf claims Verstappen was able to \u201cunite, lead and inspire a team around him\u201d.<\/p>\n Ralf Schumacher: F1 2025 \u2018changed\u2019 Max Verstappen<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n 104 points off top spot after his home race, Verstappen, understandably, was seen as a rank outsider at best to make it five Drivers\u2019 titles in a row.<\/p>\n But, second at the Dutch GP was the start of a streak, one which saw him never fail to make the podium after the summer break. That included six Grands Prix wins and a Sprint win, as Verstappen threatened to complete of the greatest F1 title comebacks ever seen.<\/p>\n In the end, he fell just two points short, as Lando Norris became World Champion.<\/p>\n Regardless, it was quite the turnaround for a Red Bull team which encountered major difficulties by the summer, with long-serving team boss Christian Horner shown the door following the British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n In a Sport1 interview, Schumacher suggested that Red Bull made that Horner call too late.<\/p>\n \u201cThis led to a long period of chaos until the car was back in a condition that allowed Max to win with it,\u201d Schumacher opined.<\/p>\n Once that happened, Verstappen, in the opinion of Ralf, unlocked a Michael Schumacher-esque \u201caura\u201d.<\/p>\n After winning two titles with Benetton, Michael Schumacher established himself as a Ferrari and F1 icon, winning five Drivers\u2019 Championships in a row between 2000-04.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what emerged from this is remarkable: a real unity, especially with Laurent Mekies and the engineering team around Verstappen,\u201d Ralf continued of Verstappen\u2019s feat.<\/p>\n \u201cMax is someone who can extract an enormous amount out of a car \u2013 you could see that in comparison to Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it was still a tremendous team effort. And that changed Max. He gained this added bonus, this ability and aura that Michael also had, to unite, lead and inspire a team around him.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving people who would walk through fire for you is crucial. Max now has this Michael gene too.\u201d<\/p>\n Interestingly, Verstappen recently pointed to Horner as someone who \u201cwent through fire\u201d for him, as he discussed the strong relationship between them which remains.<\/p>\n Asked by Viaplay how regularly he is in touch with Horner, Verstappen said: \u201cEvery week, every race.<\/p>\n \u201cFriday, Saturday and Sunday, mostly by text message. But also on holiday, for example. Every week. Every race weekend. Even after he left.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, he knows everyone on the team, but it\u2019s more about \u2018good luck\u2019 and \u2018I believe in you\u2019 \u2013 he\u2019s the biggest fan.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019ve all been through. But also \u2018you know you can do it.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAll that kind of stuff, and apart from that, of course, we talk about things other than racing.\u201d<\/p>\n Verstappen added on the Horner sack call: \u201cUltimately, it\u2019s always difficult. You\u2019ve built up a bond with Christian and achieved so much \u2013 especially in 2021, including those moments. You never forget that.<\/p>\n \u201cChristian really went through fire for me. Things like that are always difficult when you talk to each other on the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n Another long-standing Verstappen ally departed Red Bull following the 2025 campaign, that being Helmut Marko, the firm\u2019s senior advisor and driver programme boss.<\/p>\n More on Max Verstappen from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Ranking every Red Bull driver in the team\u2019s history from Coulthard to Tsunoda<\/a><\/p>\n Max Verstappen named best driver on the grid as Hamilton drops out of top 10<\/a><\/p>\n Marko felt it was time to bow out after Verstappen\u2019s title near-miss, and Ralf is certain that Verstappen has reached a point where he will be fine at Red Bull without Marko alongside him in the garage.<\/p>\n Asked what impact he feels Marko stepping down at Red Bull will have, Schumacher replied: \u201cEverything in life has its time.<\/p>\n \u201cDr Marko deliberately chose this moment, and he deserves the utmost respect for that.<\/p>\n \u201cHe still had a contract. He could have stayed. But he saw that the World Championship was narrowly missed; perhaps he wasn\u2019t entirely satisfied with himself either. And he saw what Max had become. That role at Max\u2019s side was simply no longer necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd constantly flying around the world at over 80 years of age is no mean feat.<\/p>\n \u201cMarko always said that he and Dietrich Mateschitz led the team in a straightforward manner. When you suddenly find yourself sitting in board meetings with eight people, it\u2019s a completely different world.\u201d<\/p>\n Verstappen and Red Bull will strive for fresh success as a new era arrives from F1 2026.<\/p>\n Both the chassis and engine regulations have undergone major change, with Red Bull readying to debut their first F1 engine, developed in partnership with Ford.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? 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