Max Verstappen has expressed hope that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, along with the Mercedes drivers, can help his pursuit of the Formula 1 championship by challenging McLaren’s dominance. Following the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen trails Lando Norris by 36 points and Oscar Piastri by 35, with only 116 points remaining across the final four rounds of the season. Despite the gap, the Red Bull driver has made significant progress, cutting nearly 70 points off Piastri’s lead since the Italian Grand Prix.
Over the past few races, both Ferrari and Mercedes have shown improved competitiveness, often finishing ahead of one or both McLarens. This development has given Verstappen hope that they can continue to disrupt McLaren’s rhythm in the final stretch. However, despite Ferrari’s stronger performances, Hamilton is still chasing his first podium finish with the Italian team since his switch from Mercedes.
When asked how Ferrari and Mercedes could contribute to his title hopes, Verstappen responded with his usual dry wit. “By being faster than them, that would be nice,” he quipped, referring to the need for his rivals to take valuable points away from McLaren. His comment highlights how crucial the performance of other top teams could be in shaping the final outcome of the championship.
Verstappen, however, acknowledged that Red Bull must first ensure they are quicker than McLaren themselves. “We had some good rounds where the gap came down,” he admitted, “but now, with four races left, it’s still a pretty big gap. I need to score a lot more points every weekend, which isn’t straightforward.” The Dutchman recognizes that consistency and top finishes are essential if he wants to keep his title streak alive.
Reflecting on past seasons, Verstappen noted that if this were 2023—when Red Bull’s dominance was nearly unchallenged—the situation would feel much easier to handle. “If you’d told me I was 36 points behind with four races to go back then, I’d say, ‘no problem, easy,’” he said. “But this season has been a little different.” With McLaren now leading the charge, Verstappen faces one of the toughest title fights of his career as he seeks a fifth consecutive world championship.
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