Although Max Verstappen has secured two victories in the 2025 Formula 1 season, his chances of defending the World Championship appear slim, as he trails Oscar Piastri by 97 points with 10 races remaining. Despite this gap, Verstappen’s presence on the track continues to have a notable impact on the title race, according to former F1 driver Johnny Herbert.
Herbert emphasized that while Verstappen is unlikely to contend directly for the championship, his ability to take crucial points away from the front-running McLaren drivers could influence how the title fight unfolds. Verstappen’s recent performances have seen a decline in Red Bull’s competitive edge compared to McLaren, resulting in four consecutive races without a podium finish for the reigning world champion.
The Emerging McLaren Rivalry and Verstappen’s Disruptive Potential
With McLaren’s drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, increasing their lead in the championship, Herbert noted that an abrupt collapse within McLaren is improbable this season. Instead, Verstappen is expected to be the main disruptor, challenging the McLaren duo by posing a constant threat and complicating their championship calculations.
When asked whether Verstappen can be discounted as a title contender, Herbert responded,
“For the championship, yes. He’ll be in the mix, he’ll be causing trouble for the others, and he’ll have an influence – because he’ll be taking points away potentially from the others.”
This underlines Verstappen’s ongoing role as a spoiler despite not leading the standings.
Max is just going to be in the mix and he’s going to be causing them to think in a slightly different way, because they’re fighting for a championship while fighting Max.
—Johnny Herbert, Former F1 Driver
Comparing McLaren Team-Mates Piastri and Norris in 2025
The title battle this season is shaping up as an intense duel between Piastri and Norris, both representing McLaren. Herbert praised the consistency and skill both drivers have demonstrated so far. He pointed out that the championship could ultimately be decided by mental toughness and experience, a critical factor as both are relatively young talents still developing their racingcraft.
It’s going to be down to the mentality of both of them,
—Johnny Herbert, Former F1 Driver
Herbert drew comparisons to legendary drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Michael Schumacher, highlighting how great champions improve steadily alongside their teams and cars. He remarked on how Piastri and Norris remain closely matched even through the typical ups and downs of a season.
With all the little ups and downs they’ve had, they’re still very, very close overall. It’ll only be one over the other come the end of the year.
—Johnny Herbert, Former F1 Driver
Significance of Verstappen’s Influence on the Championship Dynamics
While McLaren has established a commanding lead in the 2025 Formula 1 championship, Max Verstappen’s influence remains a key factor in the competition. By competing aggressively and consistently claiming points, Verstappen continues to shape the scoring dynamics despite not leading the title fight. This interference could prevent a straightforward victory for either Piastri or Norris, keeping the championship unpredictable until the final races.
As the season progresses, attention will focus on how the mental resilience of the McLaren drivers and Verstappen’s disruptive performances affect the championship outcome. Verstappen’s presence ensures that the title chase remains contested, compelling McLaren to maintain their form under mounting pressure from the Red Bull driver.
