Max Verstappen has expressed doubt over his chances in the ongoing 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, casting a more realistic view on the title fight despite his recent success. His comments came after winning the Sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix, where he held off Oscar Piastri to secure a victory close on the heels of his first race win since May’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Heading into the second half of the season, Verstappen faces a significant points deficit of 68 behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, underscoring the uphill battle he faces to defend his crown.
Reality Check on Verstappen’s Title Defense
Following his Sprint race triumph at Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen encountered challenges in qualifying, finishing fourth, over three-tenths of a second behind pole-sitter Lando Norris. This position places him behind Norris, Piastri, and Charles Leclerc on the starting grid for the Belgian Grand Prix, highlighting the competitiveness he must overcome.
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has remained hopeful about Verstappen’s chances, stating after the Silverstone race that the title fight was far from over, even though Max’s recent early retirement at Austria due to a collision with Antonelli hampered his campaign.
“Fifth place ultimately for Max in Silverstone, a week earlier the early retirement in Austria due to Antonelli’s ramming. That doesn’t make Verstappen’s title defence any easier, but we’re far from writing off the title,”
—Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor
Despite Marko’s optimism, Verstappen himself voiced a more pragmatic perspective when discussing the situation with Dutch media following qualifying at Spa.
“I understand that you have to be positive about it. On the other hand, I am always very realistic about what I feel in the car. And when I look at certain onboards of other cars, I know enough.”
He added plainly,
“Helmut is not in the car!”
These remarks suggest Verstappen relies on his own experience and the performance he senses in his car rather than external encouragement when evaluating his title prospects.
The Impact of Mistakes and Weather on Race Prospects
Verstappen’s qualifying performance included two notable errors during the decisive Q3 session, one significant mistake at Turn 1 and a wobble at Turn 5. Marko believes that without these errors, a third-place start was within reach, which would have improved Verstappen’s chances on race day.
“The conclusion is generally very, very good,”
—Helmut Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor
He continued,
“We have four cars in the top ten, Max had two mistakes, a serious one in Turn 1 and a wobble in Turn 5. But it’s fine for that, and with the downforce, a third place would have been possible.”
Marko also pointed to the changing weather forecast as a potential factor that could influence the race outcome, speculating that rain could create an opportunity for victory.
“So if the weather forecast is right and it’s raining, I think we can fight for victory.”
However, Verstappen remained cautious about this possibility, considering McLaren’s strength in wet conditions.
“Normally not because McLaren is even stronger in the wet than in the dry, because the overheating is even bigger, of course, on an intermediate so they have that really well under control,”
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Driver
He set a more modest goal, stating,
“For me, the goal is at least P3.”
Verstappen acknowledged that weather changes could bring chaos, and while rain followed by drying track conditions often open chances for overtaking, in dry conditions, getting stuck behind other cars in a drag reduction system (DRS) train can make progress frustrating. He cited last year’s experience of starting farther back and struggling with this issue as an example.
Looking ahead to the race, Verstappen anticipates that his main competitor in both wet or dry conditions will be Charles Leclerc. He noted that if held up by Leclerc or anyone else, McLaren’s overall pace would pull away significantly.
“So yeah, just need to target a podium. I think that’s realistic.”
What Lies Ahead for the Championship Battle
With Verstappen trailing the championship leader by a substantial margin and facing stiff competition from drivers like Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc, the challenge remains daunting. While Red Bull’s Helmut Marko urges optimism about rainy conditions offering a potential advantage, Verstappen’s sober assessment emphasizes the need for measured expectations based on on-track realities.
As the season progresses through the remaining races of 2025, Verstappen’s performance in adverse conditions or capitalizing on rivals’ mistakes could play a crucial role in keeping his title ambitions alive. For now, his clear focus is on securing podium finishes that gradually close the points gap, rather than expecting dramatic turnarounds.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Max Verstappen a millionaire?
A. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Verstappen is believed to have around $200 million.
Q. Is Max Verstappen rich?
A. Max Verstappen has earned $217 million (£163m) since joining the Red Bull Racing team in 2016. He quickly stood out and became the F1 world champion in 2021. His impressive win secured his status as one of the top drivers in the sport. Verstappen then continued his success, winning the championship titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Q. What is Max Verstappen’s baby gender?
A. Max Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet had a baby girl on Saturday, naming her Lily. Red Bull’s team leader, Christian Horner, has stated that the arrival of Lily will not affect Verstappen’s racing performance.
Q. What gender is Max Verstappen’s baby?
A. Verstappen and Piquet shared that they have a new baby girl named Lily.
Before the end of the 2024 racing season in Abu Dhabi, they announced they were expecting.
Lily is now Penelope’s younger sister.
