“Better to watch him fight back”: F1 legend Mario Andretti thinks Max Verstappen is better off without a dominant Red Bull car

Motor sport icon Mario Andretti has provided a new perspective on Max Verstappen's Formula 1 campaign in 2025, claiming the Red Bull Racing driver doesn't need the quickest car to be at his best—and that fans are actually served better when he isn't. The 1978 Formula 1 World Champion explained to GPblog why Max Verstappen's present status as an underdog relative to McLaren benefits the sport and why Adrian Newey's resignation could be at the core of Red Bull's problems. As the 2025 F1 season approaches its European swing, Max Verstappen is on the back foot. McLaren's Oscar Piastri has stormed ahead with three consecutive wins, but Verstappen is still in the title race without the advantage of the dominant car he's had in recent years. For Mario Andretti, that's not a drawback—it's entertainment. “You can tell that he does not have more of a clear advantage,” Mario Andretti said. “He doesn't need an advantage, by the way. He's good enough. For us watching, it's best if he doesn't, because he fights. Watch him; it's really better to watch him fight back than to 'oh, he's gone. Nobody can touch him.”Mario Andretti believes that when Max Verstappen is pushed, it brings out a different kind of driving from him—more grit, more drama, and more thrill for the fans. The consistency of the Dutch driver in putting up good shows despite Red Bull's recent inconsistency has been a major theme of the 2025 season. Although Red Bull Racing has brushed aside rumours of a structural crisis, Mario Andretti is of the opinion that the loss of long-time technical director Adrian Newey has taken a definite toll on the performance of the team. Newey, who left to join Aston Martin, was the pillar of Red Bull's car development achievement for almost two decades. “I don't know if it's a coincidence or what, but ever since Adrian Newey left the team, something seemed like something was missing,” he stated. “I know Adrian very well. He's the best engineer I've ever worked with. I suppose so. He was in IndyCar with me in ’87, so I know his value, and he has a record to show for what he's done with every team he's been with. So again, it is what it is. Just the events and whatever happened. We all know. But from where I sit, I think that's part of the issue. If they were to express themselves openly, they would say the same thing; especially Jos is the other, I think. But then again, it's not my business.”Also read: Colton Herta Leads Cadillac's F1 Driver List: Mario Andretti AssuresMax Verstappen can no longer be alone in a league of his own with Red Bull's equipment in 2025, but in the eyes of Mario Andretti, that's what makes the season more interesting. As the fight at the front gets more intense, Verstappen's resistance to pressure is solidifying his reputation—not only as a quick driver but also as a fighter. And for Formula 1 enthusiasts, that's a victory on its own.