Max Verstappen and Lando Norris after the United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

Albon warns McLaren amid charging Verstappen: 'Never count him out'

21:37, 23 Oct

Updated: 22:49, 23 Oct

byOlly Darcy

Williams driver Alex Albon has given McLaren a stern warning about former teammate Max Verstappen, stating that they "can't count Max out".

"It'll be interesting, to me, to see how McLaren have to play it, because they're still playing both drivers into the championship."

- Alex Albon

The Dutchman has won three of the last four races to close the championship gap on championship leader Oscar Piastri from 104 points to just 40 points.

This rediscovery of form comes after Red Bull's updates at the Italian Grand Prix, revitalising Verstappen's improbable title charge, while McLaren searches for their first win since the Dutch Grand Prix.

"It's a good track for him here, that's for sure," Albon said in the paddock in Mexico City when asked about the possibility of Verstappen earning a fifth consecutive world title..

Max Verstappen on the podium after winning the United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"It'll be interesting. It'll be interesting, to me, to see how McLaren have to play it, because they're still playing both drivers into the championship.

"But, at the same time, you could most easily cover him off if you prioritise one driver. But I think what they're doing is fair, and they shouldn't do that. It is going to come down to the wire.

"It seems like they [Red Bull] have got a good momentum right now. Their upgrade seems to be working; I think it was Monza. You can never count Max out. That's for sure."

Verstappen's miraculous comeback

After Piastri's win in Zandvoort, Verstappen sat 104 points off the Australian, with his chance to earn another world title all but done as Red Bull and the RB21 looked void of all pace to battle at the front of the grid.

However, updates brought by the Austrian team at Monza have broken the championship wide open, with Verstappen going on to win in Italy, Azerbaijan and the United States to claw back the points deficit and catapult himself back into title contention.

Now, with just five more races remaining in 2025, the door is wide open for Verstappen to steal the title from Piastri or Lando Norris, with the permutations to do so widening significantly after a sprint race win and Grand Prix win at the United States Grand Prix.

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