2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button has praised 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen for his perf👍ormances this season, stating that he’s “stepped it up”🐭 amid McLaren’s threat in the title race. 

Verstap꧒pen sits third in the F1 drivers’ championship after five rounds in 2025, 12 points behind Oscar Piastri.

While McLaren have comfortably had the fastest car this year, Verstappen has continued to🔴 perform at his best.

This was most notable at the Japanese Gran𝓰d Prix, where Verstappen snatched pole position off the McLarens before෴ winning the race.

Verstappen was also in conten൲tion for the race victory at Saudi Arabia, but a five🍷-second time penalty from an incident on the opening lap cost him against Piastri.

Reflecting on the season so far, Button pointed out Verstappen’s performance at Suzu𝕴ka as the standout mom♓ent of 2025 so far.

“For me, the moment that stands out is Max Verstappen’s qualifying lap at Suzuka,” Button said on Sky’s F1 coverage ahead of FP1 in Miami. “I know, oh it’s Max Verstappen. He’s been wi🍌nning world championships for years.

“🔯For me, this year, he’s stepped it up. He doesn’t have the best car, far from 🤪it, but he’s able to still drag something out of it.

“To get that pole position around a track like Suzuka where you need to be𓂃 brave was very, very i🐭mpressive.”

‘Another level’ for Verstappen in 2025

In𒆙 Verstappen’s 2024 title-w♒inning campaign, he won seven of the opening 10 races.

Due to Red Bull's decline in form mid-season, he could only win t🍸wo more races in the remaining part of the year.

Despite Red Bull’s lack of performance relative to McLaren and Ferrari, Verstappen held on ⛎toꦍ the championship lead.

Button believes Verstappen’s “game has ri🃏sen” again in 2025 due to 🔯McLaren’s strong start to the year.

“I think he’🥃s had to. Suddenly, he’s got some proper competition in McLaren - Oscar and Lando,” Butto🌄n explained.

“So, yeah. He’s had to. His game has risen and it’s impressive to 🎃see.

“For me, watching it from a driver’s point of view, see💎i𝓡ng him manhandle the Red Bull around Suzuka was very impressive.”