Many F1 ‘insiders’ won’t dare say what they really think about Max Verstappen’s title chances

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Max Verstappen has put himself back into contention for the 2025 Formula 1 title as he battles with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

The four-time champion looked out of the running early on in 2025, as he grabbed only two wins before the summer break. McLaren established a clear advantage over the field, winning 12 of the first 15 races and wrapping up the constructors’ title in Singapore.

After Piastri won the Dutch GP, Verstappen was 104 points behind the Aussie in the standings. Since then, the Dutchman has won three of the last four races and has moved just 40 points adrift from the championship leader.

Piastri knows Verstappen’s consistency makes him a threat, with the McLaren star scoring just one podium in the last four events. Red Bull have benefited from Laurent Mekies’ new technical approach and subsequent upgrades to the RB21, which has put Verstappen back in contention.

Many F1 ‘insiders’ believe Max Verstappen will win the 2025 title but won’t say it publicly

Having cut down Piastri’s lead by 64 points in the last four races, the momentum is on Verstappen’s side heading into the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Piastri can afford to finish second in every race and Sprint for the rest of 2025 and Verstappen wins them all and still claims the title. But with McLaren struggling to catch the Dutchman at the moment, many are starting to shift their predictions in favour of the defending champion.

According to a report from Motorsport Italia, ‘many insiders’ believe that ‘Verstappen will ultimately make the breakthrough’ and beat Piastri and Norris for the championship. However, they are not going public with those opinions.

It is all ‘smiles’ during broadcasting and live shows, but it is behind the scenes when many in the paddock are making it known that they think Verstappen will be champion.

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Can Max Verstappen beat the McLarens for the 2025 title?

Verstappen and Red Bull have certainly made gains on McLaren in the last few races. In fact, Red Bull are planning more upgrades in Las Vegas, which has typically not been a strong track for their Woking rivals.

While technical development has taken a dip after prioritising the 2026 F1 regulations, McLaren’s drop in results has been self-inflicted. Slow pit stops for Norris and Piastri will be costly for their title chances, with the issue hampering them in the last four races.

McLaren’s ‘lightness’ has gone as Verstappen mounts the pressure on them to seal the title. They are threatened by the Dutchman as he continues to put in standout performances, and Red Bull have caught up in development.

With five races and two Sprints still to go, Verstappen has a tough job at hand to beat the McLarens. However, with the momentum on his side, it is hard to say that the feat is impossible.