How Max Verstappen fought his way back into the 2025 title battle
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated:
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Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
With four rounds to go, Max Verstappen is back in the title fight, which seemed improbable heading into the summer break. How did the defending world champion find himself in the battle once again?
Ahead of the summer break, Verstappen had already acknowledged that he was no longer in the fight for the title. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Dutchman finished ninth, and was 97 points behind Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen's outstanding streak since Zandvoort
Dutch GP:
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen began his podium streak; however, his gap to Piastri still increased. The Australian won at Zandvoort, ahead of Max Verstappen, while Lando Norris did not finish. At this point, Verstappen's gap grew beyond 100 points.
1. Piastri, 309 | 2. Norris, 275 (-34) | 3. Verstappen 205 (-104)
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Verstappen celebrating his victory in Italy - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Italian GP:
erstappen took a dominant victory in Monza, finishing around 20 seconds ahead of the two McLaren drivers. After team orders, Norris finished second with Piastri rounding off the podium.
1. Piastri, 324 | 2. Norris, 293 (-31) | 3. Verstappen 230 (-94)
Azerbaijan GP:
McLaren had a difficult weekend in Baku while Verstappen won his second Grand Prix in a row. Piastri crashed out on the opening lap and Norris could not finish beyond P7. This was the weekend the Dutchman gained the most points on his rivals.
1. Piastri, 324 | 2. Norris, 299 (-25) | 3. Verstappen 255 (-69)
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Singapore GP:
George Russell won at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, but Verstappen still managed to finish ahead of both McLaren drivers. He once again gained six points on championship leader Piastri, as the Australian finished fourth behind Norris.
1. Piastri, 336 | 2. Norris, 314 (-22) | 3. Verstappen 273 (-63)
The Lap 1 incident during the Sprint at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures
United States GP:
A first-lap incident during the Sprint led to DNFs for both McLaren drivers, meaning Verstappen gained eight points on his rivals by Saturday. On Sunday, Verstappen went on to win the US Grand Prix, while Piastri only finished sixth.
1. Piastri, 346 | 2. Norris, 332 (-14) | 3. Verstappen, 306 (-40)
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Mexico City GP:
For the first time since the Dutch GP, a McLaren driver managed to finish ahead of Verstappen in a race as Norris took a commanding victory in Mexico City. The Red Bull driver finished third, and got closer overall to his fifth world title.
Norris also took the lead in the standings after Piastri finished only fifth.
1. Norris, 357 | 2. Piastri, 356 (-1) | 3. Verstappen, 321 (-36)
How did the gap change over the past weekends?
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| Weekend | Verstappen's gap to P1 |
| Dutch GP | 104 pts |
| Italian GP | 94 pts |
| Azerbaijan GP | 69 pts |
| Singapore GP | 63 pts |
| United States GP | 40 pts |
| Mexico City GP | 36 pts |
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