Verstappen is going “race by race” for the F1 title, is he the favorite?

Verstappen Holds Firm in the Fight for the F1 Championship

The driver Max Verstappen has adopted a cautious but determined stance regarding his chances in the fight for the Formula 1 title. After his recent victories in Monza and Baku, Verstappen prefers to focus on each individual race, without getting carried away by speculation about the championship. McLaren boss Andrea Stella has acknowledged Verstappen’s competitiveness, which has sparked a debate about whether the current champion is a serious contender for the title. Faced with this situation, Verstappen has responded with a relaxed attitude, downplaying external pressures.

From my point of view, honestly, I see it as one race after another. There are still many points at stake, especially if you look at how the season has gone so far.

Max Verstappen

Lando Norris, McLaren driver, has expressed that Verstappen “has a chance”, while George Russell, from Mercedes, joked saying he gives him a 100% chance. Charles Leclerc, from Ferrari, estimated Verstappen’s chances at 20%.

Verstappen has reduced 35 points to Oscar Piastri in the last two races. Verstappen’s victory in Baku and his performance in Monza have demonstrated Red Bull’s progress. The Singapore race, with its high-downforce design, will be a test for the team and its ability to compete against McLaren. Verstappen emphasized that his approach will not change, “I have nothing to lose. As a team, we approach it like that. We try to do our best, be more competitive and confirm that the direction we took with the car is more competitive.” When asked if the fact that his performance is being talked about demonstrates how well he has been driving this year, he replied: “Yes, maybe. The car hasn’t always been pleasant or easy to drive, but lately it seems to be going in the right direction, and with a car that is a little more competitive and also a little more predictable, you can show better things. I think that’s pretty normal. Overall, of course, I am very happy with the driving throughout the season.”