Alex Jacques reveals what Max Verstappen’s F1 rivals really think about his title hopes vs McLaren

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Max Verstappen could pull off one of the best comebacks in F1 history if he clinches the championship this season, and Alex Jacques has revealed what his on-track rivals think about his title chances.

The reigning world champion has eaten into a 104-point deficit following the first race back from the summer break to be just 36 points behind Lando Norris in the hunt for the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship.

Verstappen hit a purple patch at the last possible moment for his title hopes to remain alive, thanks to Red Bull’s continuation of upgrading the RB21 whilst their rivals have already switched focus to the new F1 regulations in 2026.

The pressure is now on the McLaren duo of Norris and Oscar Piastri as their two-horse race for a maiden title has now become a three-way battle, and the official commentator for F1 has revealed what the rest of the grid thinks about which way the championship will swing at the end of the season.

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Alex Jacques reveals what the rest of the grid thinks about Max Verstappen’s title hopes

Many F1 ‘insiders’ believe Verstappen is the favourite to walk away from the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi with the 2025 title to his name, but according to Alex Jacques, it isn’t a sentiment shared by the drivers on the grid.

Speaking on the Weekend Warm-Up for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, the voice of Formula 1 analysed the final rounds of the season, as well as revealing the current feeling up and down the pit lane.

He said, “This is the race where you can get the big swings, though, because we’ve got the variable with the weather. We’re in the desert for the final three Grand Prix of the year.

“We could have cool temperatures in Vegas, but we know what we’re going to get in Qatar. We know what we’re going to get in Abu Dhabi. We don’t know what we’re going to get when it comes to Sunday.

“That is an opportunity for Verstappen. He’s just trying to hit home runs. He’s got no right to win this title. He shouldn’t even be in the battle. So, he’s got no pressure at all.

“If he can get there, one of the great all-time championship wins, but if you speak to the drivers around here, they’re still saying it’s going to be one of the McLaren boys.”

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The 2025 F1 title predictions are rolling in as the season reaches a flash point

With just four rounds remaining of the 2025 season, including this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, many figures within the world of Formula 1 have offered their opinion on who will be crowned as the world champion.

Sebastian Vettel thinks Norris will take the title due to his recent form, which saw him snatch the championship lead away from his out-of-form McLaren counterpart at the most recent round of racing in Mexico.

On the other hand, former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen thinks Piastri will regain the lead of the championship fight in the final few races and walk away from the Yas Marina Circuit in December as a newly crowned world champion.

Whichever way the title may swing following the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, it’s shaping up to be a fascinating ending to the 2025 season, and it may be too tough to call at this very moment in time who will return to action in 2026 as the reigning world champion.