Max Verstappen’s unexpected resurgence in the Formula 1 World Championship has thrown a massive wrench into McLaren’s lead in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ titles. After a dominant performance at the US Grand Prix, Verstappen closed the gap to just 40 points behind Oscar Piastri, who leads the standings. What seemed like a distant dream just a few races ago is now a genuine possibility: Verstappen could steal the title away from McLaren, just as Kimi Räikkönen did 18 years ago in one of F1’s most dramatic final-season finishes.
Verstappen, who was 104 points behind Piastri after the Dutch Grand Prix, has now reduced the gap by 64 points in just four races. With wins at Monza, Baku, Singapore, and Austin, Verstappen has shown that Red Bull has regained its competitive edge, especially after struggling with balance issues earlier in the season. Red Bull’s strategic upgrade to their car has proven a game-changer, allowing Verstappen to challenge McLaren, who had dominated the early part of the season. Now, with five races left, including two sprints, Verstappen is confident that he can close the gap entirely.
However, McLaren’s path to securing the championship has become far more complicated. While Piastri still holds a slim advantage over his teammate Lando Norris, McLaren faces the challenging dilemma of managing their drivers’ competition in the midst of Verstappen’s relentless charge. The team’s efforts to maintain equity between their two drivers—something that worked when they were firmly in the lead—may now need to shift to favoring one driver to fend off Verstappen’s threat.
The mounting pressure on McLaren is reminiscent of the 2007 season, when their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, were locked in a tight battle for the title, only to be overtaken by Kimi Räikkönen in the final race of the season. Räikkönen’s late-season surge, much like Verstappen’s current form, saw him win three of the last four races, and ultimately claim the title by just one point.
With McLaren potentially facing a similar scenario, the pressure is now on their team principal, Andrea Stella, and his drivers to stay calm and focused. However, as Verstappen continues to close in, McLaren’s strategy will need to be adjusted accordingly, with a choice potentially having to be made between Piastri and Norris. The next race in Mexico promises to be another crucial battleground, one that could determine the trajectory of this season’s title fight.
As Verstappen eyes his fifth world championship, McLaren will need to dig deep to hold off the challenge, knowing that, in Formula 1, anything can change in the final laps.
