Verstappen's 2025 title charge just media hype? 'Nobody believes it'

The former IndyCar driver and current analyst believes the situation has echoes of last year’s late-season narrative involving Lando Norris.

“To me, talking about Max and the Drivers' Championship sounds a lot like last year around this time when we thought, 'oh, well, is Lando now, you know, momentum's on Lando's side. Does he have a shot at it?',” Hinchcliffe said in the F1 Nation podcast.

Here, Hinchcliffe was pointing to the 2024 season, when Norris briefly looked like he might threaten Verstappen, when driving the championship winning MCL38.

At the time, much of the media began speculating about a title challenge, but Verstappen ultimately closed out the championship comfortably.

The Canadian suggested that much of the current talk about Verstappen’s 2025 title chances is more about keeping the story alive than reflecting the actual points gap.

Oscar Piastri currently holds a similar advantage over Verstappen to the one Verstappen had over Norris last year, yet McLaren’s challenge still fell short.

Even so, Hinchcliffe didn’t rule Verstappen out completely. “I agree with you, Laura. If anybody can do it, it's Max.”

They're not the best. With seven Championship Rounds left to go he'd have to takean average of 10 points off Piastri's lead every race weekend, meaning Verstappen would have to win all races, and hope Piastri never finishes second. And that would only give him the Championship by one point.

Of course with the Sprints added to the equation there may be a bit more leeway, but it's going to be a tough ask. Want to find out what the paddock has to say about Verstappen's apparently revived underdog title charge? Click here to read more.

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