Verstappen Surges in the F1 Championship Fight: Is McLaren in Trouble?
The Formula 1 world has become accustomed to the excellence of Max Verstappen, and the possibility of the Dutch driver becoming a title contender in 2025 no longer seems so far-fetched, despite being 69 points behind the championship leader with seven races remaining.
Verstappen’s impeccable weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including pole position, fastest lap, and race victory, coincided with a chaotic and error-filled weekend for McLaren. Championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed in qualifying and on the first lap of the race, finishing without points. His teammate and rival, Lando Norris, squandered valuable opportunities on both Saturday and Sunday, and the team was delayed in a crucial pit stop for the second consecutive time. A worryingly careless weekend for the team that has dominated much of the season.
Definitely, Max is in the running for the drivers’ championship. We knew it, and we confirmed it today.
Andrea Stella, McLaren boss
Verstappen’s victory and Piastri’s race without points reduced the gap to 69 points. Norris, for his part, fought to achieve seventh position. Despite the significant gap, Verstappen has reduced 35 points to Piastri in the last two races.
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Verstappen, cautious about the idea of being considered a title contender, acknowledges the difficulty of the situation. However, the way F1 perceives Verstappen demonstrates his impact. His recent performance has led rivals like Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto to speak about the four-time world champion as if he were from another dimension. The aura he has built, especially in 2024 and throughout the season, makes him a competitor who cannot be ruled out.
McLaren’s fragility is also evident. Baku was a pressure point, and the team didn’t respond well. Piastri, Norris, and McLaren’s response will determine how the championship unfolds.Piastri’s weekend was a surprise, with unusual mistakes for a championship leader. Norris, despite gaining ground, seemed not to take advantage of the opportunity. Norris, when asked if he felt the weekend was a missed or seized opportunity, replied that “I’m doing the best I can in every race”.
Stella compared Piastri’s weekend to Michael Schumacher’s, highlighting that even champions make mistakes. Stella, who worked with great F1 talents, as an engineer at Ferrari, compared the Australian’s weekend to that of one of the greatest in the history of the sport.
Stella’s comments about Verstappen may have been aimed at refocusing his own team. Red Bull’s resurgence and Verstappen’s two victories have put pressure on McLaren. Verstappen, with his driving style and approach, is closing the gap.Verstappen, true to his style, prefers to focus on each race. The next event, the Singapore Grand Prix, represents a challenge, as Verstappen has never won there. If Red Bull achieves victory in Singapore, the idea that Verstappen will dominate the rest of the calendar would not be far-fetched.
The 69-point gap could be reduced, given that Verstappen will not lose points to his teammate. The combination of Red Bull returning to being the car to beat and the fight between Piastri and Norris would legitimize the idea that Verstappen is in contention. The music could be playing louder and louder in Stella’s mind.
Although McLaren has already secured the constructors’ championship, the team leaves Baku with a shadow cast by Verstappen. Singapore will be an unmissable race.
