Verstappen Targets Fifth F1 Title After US GP Surge

Verstappen’s ‘Positive Pressure’ as He Goes ‘Flat Out’ for Fifth Title

For the first time in 2025, Max Verstappen admitted he is genuinely chasing the Formula 1 world championship, following a dominant weekend at the United States Grand Prix.

The Red Bull Racing driver, who had long downplayed his title chances due to McLaren’s early-season dominance, is now riding a remarkable four-race hot streak. After taking double wins in Austin—both the sprint and main race—Verstappen closed the gap on Oscar Piastri to just 40 points, with five rounds remaining.

“Of course, the chance is there,” Verstappen said. “We just need to keep delivering weekends like this. If we succeed, amazing. If not, we gave it everything. It’s positive pressure—not stress. We’re going flat out.”

From Outsider to Title Contender

Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc battled all race over second position

Just a month and a half ago, Verstappen trailed McLaren’s Piastri by 104 points, and Lando Norris by 70. But after back-to-back wins and a car finally dialed into his driving style thanks to key upgrades introduced in Monza, he now finds himself back in the title hunt.

Since the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen has made up 64 points, outpacing both McLaren drivers and crushing Red Bull’s rivals at various circuits with varying characteristics.

“If someone had told me this would happen after Zandvoort, I would’ve told them they were an idiot,” Verstappen joked.

McLaren Still Believe in Their Package

Despite Verstappen’s rise, McLaren remain confident. Team principal Andrea Stella insisted that Norris “had the pace to win” in Austin but was held up behind Charles Leclerc for most of the race due to Ferrari’s aggressive soft tyre strategy.

“Performance-wise, we’re reassured. Lando had winning pace,” said Stella.

Verstappen also admitted: “When Lando was in clean air, he was as fast—if not slightly faster—than me.”

However, a lack of data due to the team’s sprint crash on Saturday forced McLaren into a conservative set-up, affecting performance over the bumpy Austin track.

Piastri: “It Just Didn’t Click This Weekend”

Oscar Piastri won seven of the first 13 races this season

While Norris has cut Piastri’s lead nearly in half, the Australian rookie insists there’s no panic despite a tough weekend where he lacked pace and finished well off the podium.

“There’s no pressure issue,” Piastri said. “It just wasn’t very fast. That happens sometimes. The belief is still there.”

The gap is closing, but with five races left—including sprint rounds in Qatar and Brazil—both McLaren drivers are still mathematically in contention.

Stella: “This Is What F1 Is About”

As McLaren face their first title race in over a decade, Stella emphasized the need for calm and composure.

“This tight competition is what Formula 1 is all about,” he said.

“We want to perform with intensity, not stress. It’s a privilege to be here—now we keep doing the good work and the results will come.”