How Max Verstappen privately feels about his 2025 F1 championship chances ahead of the United States GP

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is lurking in the background of this season’s drivers’ championship fight.

Oscar Piastri goes into the upcoming United States Grand Prix with a 22-point lead in the drivers’ championship.

His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, controversially narrowed that lead in Singapore after overtaking Piastri on the opening lap, breaking what the Australian believed was the only rule that existed between them: no contact.

McLaren argued the contact Norris initially made with Max Verstappen justified their wheels banging, and the stewards agreed, but the Red Bull driver came out on top, only being beaten by Mercedes’ George Russell.

Verstappen isn’t currently catching Piastri at a fast enough rate to win the 2025 drivers’ championship, but the gap has decreased significantly since the summer break.

The Dutchman won back-to-back races in Italy and Azerbaijan and last finished behind a McLaren at his home race in Zandvoort all the way back in August.

Verstappen has to overturn a 63-point deficit by the time the chequered flag flies at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win a fifth consecutive title.

Journalist Erik van Haren has very close ties with the Verstappen camp and has shared how the 28-year-old currently feels about his championship hopes.

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Max Verstappen privately ‘still thinks’ he can win the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ championship

Van Haren was being interviewed on The Inside Track Podcast about the Dutchman’s title hopes, and said: “Yeah, I think he still thinks, OK, maybe it can happen.

“But I think he also knows that something strange must happen, because I think you have to win almost everything and then Piastri and Norris have to make mistakes or maybe have a DNF, and that’s the only thing, because if they finish all the races, I think the deficit is too big.

“There was also quite a good, what is typical Verstappen. After Singapore, I think before the weekend, not a lot of people expect him to be ahead of both McLarens, so he can be very happy with that.

“But you can sense a bit mixed feelings, he was happy with that, but also he had a lot of problems with the car, and he said for winning the championship you have to win these races because you have seven points more.

“So, in other words, he had to beat George Russell there at the start, which didn’t happen.

“That’s seven points more, and then you have to rhythm back because it’s not only Norris and Piastri who have to make mistakes or DNF, but also you have to win all the races, and it’s not always that easy for Verstappen in this car.

“But, on the other hand, that we talk about Verstappen winning possibly a championship this year is quite a miracle if you look a month back in time.”

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Verstappen will know that he needs the likes of George Russell, or even the Ferrari drivers, to do him a favour if he’s going to match Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive titles.

A clash between both McLaren drivers feels more likely than ever, given the frustration in Piastri’s radio messages in Singapore, but Verstappen can’t rely on external factors at this stage.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella commented on Verstappen’s title hopes at their Woking base after Singapore, highlighting that he’s still in the back of the Italian’s mind.

It’s hard to argue that he’s not the fastest driver currently on the grid, but whether Red Bull have a car capable of competing at each of the last six circuits is another matter.

What we do know is Verstappen will be praying it rains in Brazil again after securing one of the greatest wins in F1 history at Interlagos last season.