Max Verstappen sees clear reason why 2025 is ‘positive’ if Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri wins title

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Max Verstappen of Red Bull remains an outside contender to win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title with three rounds remaining, but his hopes may end at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old has the chance to join Michael Schumacher as the only pilot ever to win five titles in a row by retaining the F1 drivers’ championship this year. Schumacher dominated F1 with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004, while Verstappen has won each title since 2021 for Red Bull.

McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have the chance to bring Verstappen’s reign to an end in the 2025 F1 season, though. Norris leads the drivers’ standings heading into round 22/24 at the Las Vegas GP on 390 points so far, over Piastri on 366 and Verstappen on 341.

Verstappen would complete the biggest F1 title comeback in history, should the Dutchman’s dominance continue this term after trailing Piastri atop the standings by 104 points after the Dutch GP in round 15. But Norris could eliminate Verstappen from the title race in Las Vegas.

Max Verstappen believes Red Bull’s consistent car development makes 2025 a “positive” year

Verstappen currently trails Norris by 49 points in the drivers’ standings, and he cannot leave Sin City more than 58 points adrift of the McLaren star. The Dutchman can win the title in a tie on points with Norris if he wins all three of the final Grands Prix to claim the tie-breaker.

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But even if Norris or Piastri wins their maiden F1 title in 2025, Verstappen believes this year has been “positive” as Red Bull consistently improved their car. The 28-year-old won two of the first seven Grands Prix, then followed an eight-round winless run with three wins in six.

Verstappen told Blick: “No matter what happens now, my assessment of 2025 is positive because we’ve consistently managed to improve the car.”

Red Bull’s upgrades dragged Max Verstappen back into the 2025 F1 drivers’ title fight

At the start of this season, Verstappen regularly complained about Red Bull’s through-corner balance problems that made the rear of their RB21 go light, especially under braking, before becoming understeer. Red Bull have since made the issue less severe, but it remains in part.

Verstappen could not understand why his Red Bull was “all over the place” during qualifying for the Sao Paulo GP following a change in set-up after the F1 Sprint in Brazil. The balance of his RB21 meant Verstappen could not attack Interlagos anywhere near the levels he desired.

But Red Bull’s floor upgrade at Monza and a front wing upgrade in Singapore made the RB21 a true rival for the McLaren MCL39, as Verstappen won in Italy and Azerbaijan and sealed P2 in Singapore. Verstappen has also outscored Piastri over all six rounds since the Dutch GP.

It must be said, however, that while Red Bull have improved the RB21 in recent months to see Verstappen fight Norris and Piastri for the drivers’ title, McLaren have not brought any major upgrades since the British GP in July after they elected to focus on the 2026 F1 regulations.