Helmut Marko picks his ‘favourite’ for the 2025 F1 drivers’ title from Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris

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Helmut Marko feels Red Bull’s Max Verstappen now has “no chance” to win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title, leaving McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to battle.

The McLaren duo and Red Bull racer lock out the top three spots in the F1 drivers’ standings ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Piastri leads the way with 324 points, with Norris 31 points behind his papaya pal and Verstappen 94 points behind the Australian.

Verstappen needs to outscore Piastri by at least 11.75 points per round to retain the drivers’ championship for a fifth year in a row. Sunday’s Azerbaijan GP kicks off the last eight rounds of the 2025 F1 season, with F1 Sprints in the USA, Brazil and Qatar also still on the schedule.

The remaining rounds leave a maximum of 264 points on the table, but Red Bull motorsport adviser Marko feels Verstappen will need a lot to go in his favour to deny McLaren their first drivers’ title since 2008. Piastri and Norris are also fighting to lift an F1 title for the first time.

Oscar Piastri is the ‘favourite’ to win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title over Lando Norris

Marko sees “advantages” on each side of the McLaren garage that could determine which of the papaya pals wins their first F1 title. The Austrian admires Piastri’s mental strength, while Norris boasts the superior single-lap speed when the Briton strings a qualifying lap together.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

But given Piastri leads by 31 points, inflated after Norris’ retirement during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Marko expects the 24-year-old will see out the season in front. Norris cut his deficit by three points last time out at Monza, as Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix.

Marko told sport.de: “Both have their advantages. On one lap, Lando Norris might be faster. On the other hand, Oscar Piastri is the more cool-headed one and seems to be mentally stronger. I believe, based on these factors and the lead he has, that Piastri is the favourite.”

Helmut Marko admits Max Verstappen’s 2025 F1 title defence is ‘realistically’ over

Piastri has led the 2025 F1 drivers’ standings since he took the lead of the championship off Norris after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in round five of the 16 held. Verstappen is yet to lead the standings thus far in 2025, despite leading for 1,029 days prior to the season.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Norris won the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March to dethrone Verstappen for the first time since the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix. But Marko now accepts the Dutchman’s 94-point deficit to Piastri ahead of the 2025 Azerbaijan GP will likely ensure his reign is over.

“We are fighters, but we are also realists. So, a lot would have to come together to make up this deficit,” Marko said. “It’s in the back of our minds. We’re not giving up. But, realistically, I would say no chance of winning the world title.”

Verstappen is already looking ahead to the 2026 F1 season, as well, with his title hopes this term now very small. Red Bull racer Verstappen “really hopes” to fight Fernando Alonso for the 2026 title, too, with the Aston Martin ace last involved in a title fight in 2013 for Ferrari.