Max Verstappen’s 2025 title challenge has gained fresh momentum following impressive victories at recent races, though he remains 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri after 17 rounds. As the Dutchman pushes forward, the race for the 2025 drivers’ championship has intensified with just seven events left in the season.
Since the Italian Grand Prix (Round 16), Verstappen and his Red Bull RB21 have shown remarkable improvement. At Monza, Verstappen secured a standout victory, demonstrating the car’s enhanced competitiveness. This upward trend continued at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Verstappen qualified fastest and controlled the 51-lap race from start to finish, claiming his fourth win of the season.
British racer and F1 analyst Jamie Chadwick praised Verstappen’s recent performances during a discussion on the Sky F1 Show podcast. She noted the significant improvement in both driver and car, highlighting Verstappen’s strength in challenging conditions.
“It 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 sort of a car that he can compete at the front.”
— Jamie Chadwick, British racing driver and F1 pundit
“But even when it’s tough, he always seems to excel. And that’s what makes him, in my opinion, in the current crop, the greatest we have. And I think it’s incredible to see. It’s interesting now the title fight, because it’s a lot of points. He’s 69 points away.”
— Jamie Chadwick, British racing driver and F1 pundit
“I think there’s just under 200 left. So it’s a big, big ask, but I would never rule him out, and also, he’s not ruling himself out.”
— Jamie Chadwick, British racing driver and F1 pundit
Piastri currently leads the standings with 324 points, followed by his McLaren teammate Lando Norris with 299 points. Verstappen sits third with 255 points, making the gap substantial but not insurmountable as the remaining races unfold.
Verstappen Highlights the Challenge Ahead in the Title Race
After his recent win in Azerbaijan, Max Verstappen addressed the daunting task that lies ahead in the title battle. Acknowledging the sizeable points deficit with seven races to go, he emphasized the necessity of flawless execution and a little fortune on his side.
“It’s seven races to go and it’s still 69 points – it’s a lot. Basically everything needs to go perfectly from my side, and then a bit of luck from their side I need as well, so it’s still very tough.”
— Max Verstappen, F1 Driver
Verstappen’s remarks underline the immense pressure he faces to deliver near-perfect performances in the closing stages of the season. The Red Bull team, led by Laurent Mekies, must maintain their technical edge and reliability to support Verstappen’s charge with the RB21 car. The next race to test this will be the Singapore Grand Prix, Round 18 on the calendar.
The championship battle remains tense and unpredictable, with Verstappen’s resilience and recent form reigniting his hopes in what has been a fiercely contested season. Every race from here is crucial for the Dutchman as he seeks to extend his reign as one of F1’s dominant champions.
