Can Max Verstappen Still Win the 2025 F1 Title? A Deep Dive Into the Championship Fight
The championship fight is heating up—and in a way fans haven’t seen in years. With seven races and three sprints remaining in the 2025 Formula 1 calendar, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen trails behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The Dutch superstar, however, has a chance at one of the biggest comebacks in F1 history.
Currently, Verstappen is 69 points behind Piastri, the championship leader, and 44 points behind Norris. Still, nothing is set in stone with 199 points—including the sprint races—still up for grabs. Can Verstappen defy the odds and win his fifth consecutive world title? It’s a possibility, and the championship fight may be closer than it appears.
How Did Verstappen Get Here?
For the first time in recent seasons, Red Bull hasn’t had an easy ride. The 2025 season has seen the resurgence of McLaren, and Ferrari and Mercedes are not far behind in the mix. Verstappen’s car balance and reliability issues during the early season weren’t the only factors at play, however. A key turning point came in Monza, where Red Bull introduced a new upgraded floor for Verstappen’s car.
The rewards from the upgrades came quickly. Not only did Verstappen take the victory in Monza, but he also achieved the win in Baku in what was described as a dominating performance. The win in Baku indicated a possible change in momentum in the championship race.
McLaren’s Momentum Slips
McLaren and the current drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have been performing well this season. However, the results following the summer break have shown some signs of weakness. Piastri was the first lap Baku crash and in the Dutch Grand Prix Norris was forced to retire with an oil leak. McLaren also had a Monza team orders debacle. These leave McLaren with increasing pressure to defend their leading position in the championship.
Verstappen has been given a small window of opportunity in the championship race due to recent mistakes. With a competitor of his level, you can sure a chance this small will be seized in an intense championship fight.
The Numbers Game: Does Max Still Have a Realistic Shot?
Let’s analyze the championship fight numbers:
- Deficit of 69 points to Piastri
- Deficit of 44 points to Norris
- 199 points available (combination of races and sprints)
- To lead Piastri, Max must score 10 points more than him each race.
This is a daunting situation, but historically, F1 drivers have made significant late-season championship comebacks:
Sebastian Vettel overcame a 31-point gap in 2010 with only five races left to secure the championship.
He did it again in 2012 with 39 points down and eight races left.
Kimi Raikkonen won the championship in 2007 while 17 points behind, with only two races left. (This was under the old points system.)
Verstappen’s situation, while difficult, is certainly not impossible.
Verstappen’s Mindset
The 27-year-old Dutchman has kept his calm and focus. After winning in Baku he said:
“69 points is a lot. I personally don’t think about it. I just go race by race, trying to do the best we can. After Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
This doesn’t let the numbers overwhelm him, and focusing on championship consistency is crucial.
Recent Form: Verstappen’s Wins in 2025
So far in the 2025 season, Max Verstappen has won four Grand Prix:
Japan, Belgium (Sprint), Italy (Monza), Azerbaijan, and Italy (Imola).
This wining streak indicates Verstappen is in form and is looking to win the next rounds in the championship.
Red Bull’s Battle in the Constructors Standings
The Constructors championship is also alive and Red Bull is sitting in 3rd with 272 Points, behind
- Mercedes (290), importance is 2nd.
- Ferrari (286)
In order to obtain 2nd, Red Bull has to outperform both Ferrari and Mercedes in the remaining races. It isn’t just Verstappen’s individual fight, it’s a battle of team pride and money.
Rivals Acknowledge the Threat
Even McClaren is taking the Verstappen threat seriously. After Baku, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said,
“Max is in the contention for the drivers’ championship. We knew it and we got confirmation today.”
When your rivals admit you are still in the championship fight, you know you are doing something right.
What Needs to Happen for Verstappen to Win?
For Verstappen to complete the collection of titles, a few things need to fall into place:
Verstappen must remain flawless: A DNF or a low-scoring race nullifies the championship title hinges.
McLarens needs to take a step back: More DNF’s, strategic blunders, or collisions could close the gap.
Sprints could be the trump cards: The sprint races offer crucial additional points, which could swing the championship race.
Weather and and other outside factors: Surprise conditions could allow Verstappen to capitalize on the McLarens.
F1 is Unpredictable—And That’s Why the Fight is Alive
Unpredictability is what makes Formula 1 the show that it is. The championship fight for 2025 is expected to be one of the closest of the season. Verstappen poses the greatest threat and with the pedigree and his psychological strength, even from behind he can still be a contender.
Will he be able to close the gap on Piastri and Norris? We won’t know until it happens. The reality is that Verstappen is far from being out of the championship fight.
Reference Website : https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cy85yj0v2n9o
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