Max Verstappen reveals ‘biggest threat’ to 2025 title fight with Red Bull needing ‘perfect’ finish

Follow us on Google Discover

Max Verstappen has opened up about the biggest threat to his 2025 title fight as he closes in on the McLaren duo with five races remaining.

Verstappen has significantly closed the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris since the summer break. The Dutchman is 40 points behind Piastri in the drivers’ standings, but believes he and Red Bull could take the title because “we’ve done it before”.

Speaking on The Inside Track podcast ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, he admitted that he previously didn’t think the championship fight was possible, saying: At one point, when you start going to like 80, 90 points, 100 points [behind], especially four or five races ago, you think that’s a big ask.

“And also with the way the performances were going, it was not really looking very likely.”

Verstappen retired from the Austrian Grand Prix after a crash with Kimi Antonelli, leaving him 61 points behind Piastri. But with three non-podium finishes at the following grands prix, he entered the summer break 97 back from the Aussie.

The four-time world champion has dominated the second half of the season, with three victories and two second-place finishes in the last five races.

Max Verstappen aware he needs ‘perfect’ end to 2025 season

Verstappen shared, “it looks like we are back in it”, before admitting that he knew “everything needs to go perfect to the end.”

Speaking to Matt Majendie, the Dutchman added: “But having said that, we have done it before. Even though, of course, when we have done it before we were way more dominant, I would say.

“But why not? It’s a good task, we have fun, the pressure is not on us. We are enjoying what we’re doing and we will give everything we have until the end.

“If it’s enough, that will be a brilliant story. If not, we will still be proud: the upswing of performance is quite remarkable and we will be very happy with what we have delivered.”

When asked about what his biggest threat to a championship victory would be, Verstappen simply answered “bad luck”, before quickly adding: “You can have a crash, you can get hit, you can have a puncture. You can have an untimely Safety Car, you can get sick, you can slip in the shower, you break your leg.”

Verstappen made it evident that he felt no pressure to retain the championship this year, and with the four victories already under his belt, admitted he didn’t need another title.

Max Verstappen appreciates McLaren’s decision to not name lead driver

Max Verstappen was asked about his thoughts on McLaren’s approach to the drivers’ championship fight, with the Woking-based team choosing not to pick a lead driver.

Both McLaren drivers are sitting at the top of the championship standings, with Norris trailing his teammate Piastri by 14 points heading into the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.

McLaren has opted to continue to allow their drivers to race in the latter half of the 2025 season, despite Verstappen chasing down the duo at an alarming rate.

The Dutchman was asked about McLaren’s way of running, saying, “I mean, McLaren does the things the way they want to do it. You can agree with that or not, right? But that’s not up to us, because they are the boss. They do what they want. And you have to appreciate that.”