Max Verstappen has described his continued presence in the 2025 Formula One title fight as “remarkable” and “very impressive,” despite facing a massive deficit just a few races ago. The four-time world champion, who looked to be out of contention earlier in the season, has now reignited his championship hopes as the battle heads into its decisive final stages. His comments also seem to continue the psychological games between him, Lando Norris, and McLaren, who have been dominant throughout the campaign.
Only five rounds ago, following his home race in the Netherlands, Verstappen was 104 points behind the championship leader. The gap appeared insurmountable at the time, leading many to assume his streak of consecutive titles was coming to an end. However, his persistence and Red Bull’s improved form have allowed him to close that margin dramatically, re-establishing himself as a genuine contender.
Heading into the final four races of the season, Verstappen now trails Norris by just 36 points, with a total of 116 still available. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri sits one point behind Norris, setting up a thrilling three-way fight that could go down to the wire. The tight margins mean that every qualifying session, strategy call, and race finish could have major implications for who ultimately lifts the trophy.
Verstappen has shown no signs of being rattled by the pressure, instead maintaining his trademark calmness. He emphasized that being in this position, after such a steep climb back into contention, is already a positive outcome. His focus remains on maximizing performance rather than stressing over standings, an attitude that has defined much of his championship success over the past few seasons.
As the paddock turns its attention to the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo, Verstappen’s resurgence adds an extra layer of tension to the title race. McLaren’s consistency has made them the team to beat, but Red Bull’s late-season momentum could yet tilt the balance. With mind games already in full swing, the final stretch of the season promises to deliver one of Formula One’s most captivating finishes in years.
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