2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button has praised 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen for 📖ꦬhis performances this season, stating that he’s “stepped it up” amid McLaren’s threat in the title race. 

Verstappen sits thir🦂d in the F1 drivers’ championship aftꦗer five rounds in 2025, 12 points behind Oscar Piastri.

Wꦆhile McLaren have comfortably had the fastest cᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚar this year, Verstappen has continued to perform at his best.

This was most notable at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen snatch༺ed pole position off the McLarens before winning the race.

Verstappen was also in contention 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 Suzuka as the stando༒ut moment of 2025 so far.

“For me, the moment that stands out is Max Verstappen’s qualifying ꦇlap at Suzuka,” Button said on Sky’s F1 coverage ahead of FP1 in Miami. “I know, oh it’s Max Verstappen. He’s been winning world championships fo♔r years.

“🎀For me, this year, he’s stepped it up. He doesn’t 𝔍have 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 ꦛneed to be brave was very, very impressive.”

‘Another level’ for Verstappen in 2025

In Verstappen’s 2024 title-winning campaign, he won seven ofౠ the opening 10 races.

Due toᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Red Bull's decline i🌞n form mid-season, he could only win two more races in the remaining part of the year.

Despite Red Bull’s lack of performance relative to McLaren and Ferrari, Verstappen held on ꧙to the championship lead.

Button believes Verstappen’s “game has risen” again in 202♊5 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,” Butt꧃on explained.

“So, yeah. He’s had to. His game h🐲as risen and it’s imp꧙ressive to see.

“For me, watching it from a drive📖r’s point of view, seeing him manhandle the Red Bull around Suzuka was very impressive.”