At the Azerbaijan GP, Max Verstappen showcased his superior driving skills despite Red Bull’s recent performance struggles, dominating the race in Baku while McLaren faltered. The Dutch driver clinched a commanding victory, with McLaren’s Lando Norris finishing only seventh and Oscar Piastri suffering a disappointing DNF, prompting criticism from former F1 driver David Brabham. This race marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for the 2025 season title, reshaping the championship dynamics as Verstappen reasserted himself as a leading contender.
Verstappen’s Commanding Win Amid McLaren’s Struggles
Coming off a record-setting triumph at the Italian GP, Max Verstappen entered the Azerbaijan GP facing unpredictable and challenging conditions, which made the race tough even for the reigning world champion. A chaotic qualifying session, however, played into Verstappen’s hands, letting him take advantage while his closest rivals stumbled. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri made several costly errors, culminating in a race-ending incident that widened Verstappen’s lead in the championship to 69 points and threatened Piastri’s early season momentum. Meanwhile, Lando Norris’s seventh-place finish underscored McLaren’s inability to capitalise on the race weekend.
David Brabham reflected on McLaren’s disappointing performance, describing the weekend as a complete collapse for the British team, especially compared to Verstappen’s flawless execution. Verstappen secured his 67th career victory in Baku, delivering a dominant performance that underlined the gap between Red Bull and their rivals on this occasion.
It all kind of fell apart [for McLaren] in Baku, obviously in tricky conditions. But look at someone like Max, who again did a flawless example of what a world champion is like. McLaren and Oscar had just one of those bad weekends, just didn’t quite work out for them. [There were] too many mistakes that were very costly. You have to ask the question, why?
David Brabham told RacingNews365
Insights from David Brabham on McLaren’s Challenges in Baku
Despite the setbacks for McLaren at Baku, David Brabham suggested there could be silver linings for the Woking-based team. He proposed that the difficult race weekend might have served as a pivotal moment, relieving some mounting pressure built up since the start of the season. Brabham speculated that this release might allow McLaren to reset and refocus for the remaining races.
Is that the pressure of everything building to the point where it has to have like a pop-off valve to release the pressure and readjust for the rest of the season? It could be seen as a blessing in some way, because it’s helped them to do that and refocus for the rest of the season. So it’ll be fascinating to see what happens next.
David Brabham noted
Brabham’s comments underscore the intense pressure McLaren faces to maintain their championship challenge, and the disappointment at Baku could galvanise the team to address their mistakes and boost performance. His observations also highlight Verstappen’s resilience and maturity, contrasting it with McLaren’s struggles to contain errors during crucial moments.
Remaining Season and Verstappen’s Title Prospects
With only seven races left in the 2025 Formula 1 calendar, including the upcoming Singapore GP, the battle for the championship remains highly competitive. Verstappen’s track record in Singapore is yet to include a victory, unlike some of his successes on more familiar circuits. Still, the Dutch driver’s recent momentum suggests he could mount a strong challenge for the title if he continues performing at this high level.
Although Verstappen remains cautious, focusing on taking one race at a time rather than overestimating his chances, his dominance in Baku and prior victories demonstrate he remains a formidable contender for the season crown. Meanwhile, McLaren must recover quickly from their Azerbaijan missteps if they hope to stay in the fight.
Implications for McLaren and the F1 Landscape
McLaren’s poor performance in Baku exposes underlying issues that the team must resolve to remain competitive against Red Bull and Verstappen. The contrast between Verstappen’s consistency and McLaren’s mistakes highlights the fine margins at the top of Formula 1. How McLaren responds to this crisis may determine their fate in the tightly contested championship.
The Azerbaijan GP result also signals a potential shift in momentum back toward Verstappen and Red Bull, reinforcing the Dutchman’s reputation as a world champion when conditions become difficult. The pressure on other title challengers, including McLaren’s drivers, is intensifying as the season advances toward its decisive final races.
