Verstappen: F1 title within reach after dominant US GP

AUSTIN, Texas – Max Verstappen, after the Dutch Grand Prix, would have considered anyone who saw him fighting for the title an “idiot.” However, he now believes that victory in the championship is possible if he maximizes his performance in the remaining five races. The defending champion secured his third victory in four races at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, reducing his distance to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points. After his second place behind Piastri in Zandvoort four races ago, Verstappen was 104 points behind the leader, which underlines the change that he and Red Bull have achieved in the last races.

I would have told him he was an idiot.

Max Verstappen

When asked what he would have said to someone at the Dutch Grand Prix if they had told him he would be in the title fight in Austin, Verstappen replied: “I would have told him he was an idiot!”. “We found a good way with the car. It’s that simple.” “Of course, we put some updates on the car, but we understood our car a bit better where we wanted to perform better. Every weekend, we try to achieve it.” “Some weekends are better than others, but overall, it’s been much easier the last few weekends compared to before those races.”

Verstappen took 23 points from Piastri over the weekend in Austin after securing victory in both the sprint race and the Grand Prix. To have the chance to claim his fifth world title at the end of the year, Verstappen said he now needs to maximize every opportunity in the remaining five races. “I mean, I know we need to be perfect until the end to have a chance, so that’s what we need to focus on,” he added. “And I don’t know, I mean, as I said before, it’s very close, and attention to detail will make the difference.” “Trying to get the best setup on the weekend and then trying not to make mistakes. That’s what we’ll all try to do.”