Max Verstappen has dramatically reentered the fight for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship after back-to-back dominant wins in Monza and Baku, significantly narrowing Oscar Piastri’s lead to 69 points. With seven races and three sprint events remaining, the intense Lando Norris F1 title challenge now includes Verstappen as a formidable threat once again, intensifying the championship battle.
Despite Verstappen’s resurgence, McLaren continues to command the season. The team has secured 12 victories out of 17 races so far and is poised to clinch the constructors’ championship at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, requiring just 13 points to seal the title. However, Verstappen’s recent string of successes has altered the narrative around the title race, injecting fresh uncertainty into the contest.
On the Fast and the Curious podcast, former F1 insider Will Buxton reflected on how swiftly momentum can swing in this sport, acknowledging Verstappen’s remarkable ability to defy odds despite McLaren’s current dominance. Buxton recalled his own earlier predictions about Lando Norris’ capacity to win the championship last year:
“We’d this discussion last year about Lando? And I said, ‘Not only can he win it, but he will win it.’ And I got to be honest, I said that mainly because I was working for F1 at the time and I wanted to keep interest in the second half of the season. I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t really think he had much of a shot, but I thought, let’s pump this as much as we can,” Buxton said. (13:25 onwards)
Buxton’s 2024 forecast did not come to fruition as Norris managed only a single win in the last six races, with Verstappen ultimately claiming the title by a 64-point margin. Yet, as the 2025 season unfolds, a similarly tense script is developing: Piastri holds the lead, Norris remains close behind, and Verstappen’s strong pole-to-flag performances have reignited his championship hopes.
The Baku round turned disastrous for Piastri, featuring a crash in qualifying, an early jump start, and a first-lap collision that resulted in his premature retirement. Meanwhile, Norris struggled amid traffic to only finish seventh. Observing these dramatic shifts, Buxton reaffirmed his confidence in Verstappen’s chances this season:
“If it was anyone else, you’d probably say it’s tough. Lando had two-thirds of a season to overcome that kind of a deficit (in 2024). Couldn’t do it. But this isn’t Lando. This is Max. And Max can do the impossible. And all it’s going to take is, another Piastri implosion or for McLaren to start getting freaked out about team orders… and start handing these points over to Max.” (13:51 onwards)
While McLaren still fields arguably the fastest cars on the grid, their drivers have made crucial errors under pressure. After the events in Baku, team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the growing threat Verstappen poses and the increasing stress placed on McLaren’s drivers as the title battle intensifies.
Verstappen Targets First Singapore Victory to Bolster Championship Bid
The upcoming Singapore Grand Prix holds special significance in this championship race, as the Marina Bay Street Circuit remains the only active track where Max Verstappen has yet to secure a victory. Having triumphed at 26 different venues, this elusive Singapore win stands out as missing from his impressive career résumé. The race features 62 laps under the lights and three DRS zones, all adding unique challenges.
Verstappen’s best finishes at Singapore are runner-up results in 2018 and 2024, but he shows no sign of dwelling on past outcomes, expressing a calm and focused mindset ahead of Sunday’s race.
“It’s like any other, I just try to do my best. Of course, I know in the past this has not been particularly our strongest track, plus sometimes a bit unfortunate to get a better result around here. I’m relaxed, just having fun, here and outside of F1,” he told, via F1.com.
That relaxed attitude was reinforced by Verstappen’s recent experience outside Formula 1, as he made his debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife during a brief break. This venture into endurance racing has boosted his confidence, which he believes will help him withstand the championship pressures as the season heads towards its climax.
With Verstappen refocusing on delivering a strong performance in Singapore, the championship fight remains unpredictable. Although McLaren still appears favored, Verstappen’s relentless pursuit and ability to capitalize on rivals’ mistakes make this an intense and potentially volatile run to the finish line.
