Verstappen celebrates: 2025 title secured!

Drivers Chris Lulham and Thierry Vermeulen drove the Verstappen.com Racing Ferrari to the big win on Sunday, giving Verstappen his first title as team principal. But their weekend was not a trouble-free one.

On Saturday Verstappen's team were handed a time penalty that knocked them out of contention in the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup

On Sunday, though, the fortunes quickly turned as Lulham and Vermeulen managed to clinch the victory in Valencia, reaching the checkered flag first, and thus securing the Gold Cup title, driving the #69 Ferrari in cooperation with Emil Frey Racing, but not without a bit of luck that proved essential.

Race officials handed a time penalty to Louis Prette and Tom Fleming, who at the time were leading the race in a McLaren. It was this decision that allowed the Verstappen.com Racing drivers to reach the finish line in P1 and secure Verstappen's first title as team principal.

In Formula One, though, the situation is a bit more complex. Having taken 35 points off of Oscar Piastri's lead in the championship in the past two race weekend, Verstappen has been dubbed a candidate for the 2025 F1 Drivers' title by McLarent team boss Andrea Stella.

Citing the latest floor upgrade Red Bull brought to Monza, the Italian believes that the Red Bull Racing driver is still firmly in the race for the championship, and has thus hoped that the mistakes the papaya team has experienced in the past three races are now a thing of the past.

Red Bull Racing's Team Principal Laurent Mekies has dismissed any suggestions that his team is focused on the championship, arguing that their sole focus is extracting more lap time instead.

The Austrian's top advisor Helmut Marko refrained from making any sort of claim to the title until after the Singapore Grand Prix.

If Verstappen is to take the championship, you can read here how the remaining seven races need to go.

However, prying the title away from Piastri's firm grasp, seems like a tough ask. Taking P2 from Lando Norris is a much more realistic target.

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