Max Verstappen has reestablished himself as a serious contender in the Oscar Piastri F1 title fight following his commanding victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday. With seven races left this season, Verstappen has closed the gap to the championship leader, Oscar Piastri, and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
Verstappen’s performance in Baku was dominant, while Piastri suffered a crash and Norris finished seventh, enabling Verstappen to narrow his deficit to 69 points behind Piastri and just 44 points from Norris. Verstappen is aiming to secure an unprecedented fifth consecutive drivers’ championship, ramping up the pressure as the season moves into its closing stretch.
Expert Insight: Verstappen’s Strategic Timing to Pressure McLaren Duo
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz explained that Verstappen and Red Bull have been patiently waiting for the right moment this season to challenge McLaren’s drivers, who are both seeking their first world titles. Kravitz states that Verstappen’s car performance is the critical factor now that allows him to execute this plan.
“He knows he’s back in it because he’s got the car, that’s the thing,”
said Kravitz.
“Had he had the car all along, his plan and Red Bull’s plan was always to stay within touching distance of the two McLarens and then wait until precisely this moment in the season when the pressure is on, crazy races, unusual tracks like Baku, like Singapore, like Qatar, like Austin, like Las Vegas.”
He added,
“And then pounce like the lion he is on the two championship-wise kittens, who haven’t actually been in contention for a world championship at the sharp end of a season, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.”
According to Kravitz, Verstappen was hindered earlier in the year by the car’s limitations, but now that the Red Bull is competitive again, he can revert to his original strategy.
“Now he’s got the car again, then I think he can go back to plan A for the season, which was, ‘let’s just keep within touching distance of McLaren, and then let’s wait until it’s squeaky whatnot time at the end of the season, and then we’ll show them what pressure means going into the end of the year.’”
Jamie Chadwick Sees Renewed Confidence in Verstappen’s Approach
Jamie Chadwick, former W Series champion and Sky Sports F1 pundit, observed a noticeable shift in Verstappen’s demeanor after his recent successes. Prior to the summer break, Verstappen endured a four-race stretch without a podium finish, including a subpar performance from Red Bull in Hungary that raised questions about his ability to contend for victories this season.
However, Verstappen returned strongly, finishing second at the Dutch Grand Prix before securing pole positions and wins in Italy and Azerbaijan. This resurgence has injected fresh momentum into his title quest.
Chadwick commented,
“Max was phenomenal. I think that’s obviously where he thrives in those tricky conditions, but still, they’ve clearly found something with the car, which is great because that’s given him a car that he can compete at the front.”
“But even when it’s tough, he always seems to excel. And that’s what makes him, in my opinion, and the current crop, the greatest we have. It’s incredible to see.”
She also noted the challenge Verstappen faces in climbing a substantial points gap, but emphasized his determination.
“It’s interesting now, the title fight, because it’s a lot of points. It’s 69 points away, I think there’s just under 200 left, so it’s a big, big ask, but I would never rule him out.”
Chadwick added,
“And also, he’s not ruling himself out. He kind of smiled about it at the weekend and said, ‘it’s a lot of points, but never say never.’”
“And I like that. think he’s got this sort of spring in his step again. I think there was a lull in his atmosphere and vibe earlier in the year and now it’s game time again. He’s got that kind of spring in his step and he wants to go after it.”
Upcoming Challenges and What Lies Ahead for the Title Fight
The Formula 1 championship battle continues under the night lights of the Singapore Grand Prix from October 3-5, where Verstappen will face further tests on technically demanding circuits. With high stakes and unpredictable tracks like Singapore, Baku, and Las Vegas remaining, the pressure intensifies for both Verstappen and the McLaren drivers.
As the season’s climax approaches, Verstappen’s regained competitiveness and mental edge could play a crucial role in how the Oscar Piastri F1 title fight unfolds. Both McLaren’s Piastri and Norris, chasing their first championships, will need to withstand Verstappen’s resurgence if they hope to secure their maiden titles.
