Max Verstappen now ‘feels’ he doesn’t have an advantage over one F1 rival in the same way as Lando Norris

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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen is still widely considered the best driver on the Formula 1 grid right now.

Only Lewis Hamilton has won more races than Max Verstappen out of the drivers still in Formula 1, and the Dutchman is quickly closing in on many of his records.

However, this season, Verstappen is watching his grasp on the drivers’ championship quickly slip away.

Throughout the second half of last season, Lando Norris was Verstappen’s closest rival.

However, Verstappen always had his battles with Norris under control, and even when Norris’ McLaren was quicker than his Red Bull, the gap in the championship remained relatively stable.

This season, the four-time world champion has his work cut out, as Oscar Piastri has opened up a 69-point lead over Verstappen at the halfway stage of the season.

Commentator and journalist James Allen believes that while Verstappen feels like he has Norris’ number, Piastri is proving to be a far greater challenge.

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

James Allen thinks Max Verstappen doesn’t think he’s got Oscar Piastri ‘where he wants him’

Allen was talking on The Red Flags Podcast during the aftermath of Red Bull sacking team principal Christian Horner.

There have been plenty of discussions about where this leaves Verstappen and whether his future with the team is secure.

Discussing Verstappen’s position in the F1 pecking order, Allen explained: “I think most of the drivers would look at him right now and say, he’s the best.

“I think he’s only ever known a world where he’s competing. Yes, it’s nice to have the money, but he wants to be competitive.

“He likes the challenge of competing against other people. So, he’s up against some tough competitors.

“I think he feels he’s probably got Norris where he wants him, but I don’t think he feels he’s got Piastri where he wants him.

“And as Piastri matures, if he carries on the way he is, I think that’s quite an adversarial battle.

“But then again, if Norris finds some teeth and gets stuck into Max a bit more as we go forward, then those will all be good battles.”

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

Oscar Piastri’s biggest error against Max Verstappen this season and why it hasn’t been repeated

Much has been made of the fact that Norris and Piastri have barely fought on track this season despite being the two overwhelming favourites to win the championship.

Norris ran into the back of Piastri in Canada, but then drove magnificently to stop the Australian overtaking him in Austria.

However, both drivers have come up against Verstappen on multiple occasions in 2025 with varying levels of success.

Piastri had far less trouble than Norris passing Verstappen in Miami, which led to the Australian winning the race and extending his lead in the championship.

Norris has always struggled to overtake the Dutchman, too often choosing to dive around the outside and then finding himself ushered off the track as a result.

However, Piastri admitted his biggest error against Verstappen was at Imola, when he started on pole position and appeared to have everything under control heading to the first corner.

Piastri believed he was in control going into the braking zone, only to watch Verstappen ease off the brakes and swoop around the outside.

It’s a mistake Piastri will quickly learn from, but highlights why Verstappen is having a far tougher time understanding how the championship leader works compared to his teammate.