Verstappen's fifth title chances over? 'If he thinks it's not feasible, then that's a fact'

Speaking after the race at the Red Bull Ring, Verstappen once again stressed that he’s not thinking about a possible fifth title.

The Dutchman had made similar remarks earlier in the season, but now that view is increasingly shared by observers as well. A first-lap collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli brought Verstappen’s race to a premature end — and with it, seemingly, his title hopes.

Jan Lammers heard Verstappen's words on Sunday and drew a stark conclusion: "If Verstappen thinks it's not feasible, then that's a fact. We can also realistically assume that it's over," he stated on the NPO Radio 1 program Langs de Lijn.

Analyst Jeroen Bleekemolen saw a different Verstappen than in previous title fights: "He's obviously getting older, but when he was battling Hamilton for the championship in 2021 and something like this happened, he would get mad and go off. Now, he seems not to care."

According to Bleekemolen, this is a sign: "He's just given up. Although he will definitely continue to fight for victories this season," he thinks.

However, Lammers is not so sure that Verstappen should throw in the towel just yet: "There are still more races to go. The championship could go any way," he states. According to the analyst, it only takes one or two people dropping out. If Verstappen wins that race, in his eyes, things could quickly turn around.

Not everyone shares that optimism. Former Ferrari engineer Ernest Knoors sees little hope: "The gap is now very big. In addition, I think Verstappen realizes that no major updates for his team are coming." According to Knoors, after Verstappen's non-score, it's indeed over.

Yet, a slight chance remains, says Lammers: "If the Ferraris, after a few updates, start performing well and thus take points away from the McLaren drivers, then Verstappen should not yet give up on the championship."

Following his heavy DNF in Austria, Verstappen now trails Oscar Piastri by 61 points—almost the equivalent of three race wins.

What’s even more concerning is the clear gap in competitiveness between McLaren and Red Bull, with the MCL39 delivering a commanding performance right on Red Bull’s home turf.