Max Verstappen insisted that he enjoyed a "rollercoaster" season with Red Bull despite missing out on the Formula One title to McLaren's Lando Norris on Sunday. 

Verstappen clinched his eighth victory of 2025 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but was denied the chance of becoming only the second driver to win five championships in a row. 

The Red Bull driver knew he would be crowned the world champion if he won the race and Norris finished outside the podium places, but the Briton crossed the line in third. 

Despite this, the Dutchman was proud of his team's efforts, having found himself 104 points adrift of the championship summit after August's Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. 

Indeed, Verstappen won five of eight grand prix between Italy and Qatar, catapulting him back into contention and just 12 points behind Norris heading to Abu Dhabi. 

"I think we've had a rollercoaster of a year, especially in the beginning," Verstappen said to Sky Sports. 

"But I think how we have turned it around and the results we achieved after having tough times when you just don't know why it's this bad and this inconsistency is not easy.

"The team has really showed they never give up. It's easy to say 'this is it, it's 100 points+ and the season is done'.

"They always kept trying to understand the issues, and it's been really fun, the fightback has been really fun.

"At the end, it doesn't matter if you finish behind by one point, 10 points or 20 points. You're behind. It's two points at the end, but it's been cool. I've been enjoying it."

Eight wins in 2025 We fought until the very end #F1 || #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/WysLMfd8JZ

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) December 7, 2025

Verstappen was also quick to laud Norris for his maiden world title, which saw him become the 11th British driver to ever achieve the feat. 

He won the championship by just two points, marking the 14th time in the history of F1 that a title has been decided by a margin of two points or less, and the first since 2008, when Lewis Hamilton beat Felipe Massa by a singular point. 

It was also the first time that a driver outside the Mercedes or Red Bull racing teams won the F1 championship in the hybrid era, and the first time since Jenson Button lifted the trophy in 2009 with Brawn GP.

And despite missing out on the title by such narrow margins, Verstappen had no complaints, adding: "I don't see it like losing to be honest. 

"He has had a very good season. In general, it's been a tough battle between him and Oscar and at one point I got into the fight.

"Winning your first is always super emotional. It's very special because everyone on the grid is always dreaming about that moment.

"I hope he really enjoys it tonight with his family and, of course, the team."