Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has played down suggestions that his triumphs in Monza and Baku have brought him back into contention for the 2025 F1 world title. While Red Bull’s recent upgrades delivered strong performances, Verstappen stressed that he is not counting on a late-season surge.
Red Bull’s return to form, driven by a revised floor and fresh set-up direction, has prompted McLaren boss Andrea to warn that Verstappen remains a serious contender alongside Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Even so, the Dutchman trails leader Piastri by 69 points with seven rounds remaining.
When asked about his title prospects, Max Verstappen kept his stance realistic. “I don’t rely on hope. But it’s seven rounds left – 69 points is a lot – so I personally don’t think about it.”
“I just go race by race, what I have been doing basically the whole season. Just trying to do the best we can, try to score the most points that we can. And then after Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
Red Bull’s Momentum From Monza to Baku
Monza proved to be a turning point, with Red Bull excelling at a venue where they have historically lacked pace. “Monza has never really been a particularly strong track for us, so to do that was already a big plus,” Verstappen explained.
The success carried into Azerbaijan, where Verstappen secured pole position in challenging conditions before dominating on race day. “Baku has been alright, but never amazing — apart from maybe ’21, ’22, I guess. But the rest has always been a bit difficult. So, to have a weekend like this, it was very important.”
Singapore Poses the Next Big Challenge
Despite back-to-back wins, Verstappen acknowledged that the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix will reveal more about Red Bull’s overall competitiveness. The Marina Bay street track, notorious for its bumps and high downforce demands, has traditionally been tough for Red Bull while playing into McLaren’s strengths.
“Singapore is a completely different challenge again with the high downforce, so we’ll see what we can do there. It’s difficult to say at the moment, but the last two race weekends have been amazing for us.”
Verstappen’s approach remains unchanged: maximize every race, gather as many points as possible, and wait until Abu Dhabi to see where the standings fall.
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