Tight title fight leaves Verstappen relying on form, rivals, and fortune.
SAO PAULO
Max Verstappen admitted he might need a touch of luck to stay alive in the Formula One championship battle as the 2025 season enters its final stretch. The Red Bull driver sits 36 points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and 35 adrift of his team-mate Oscar Piastri, with just four rounds remaining.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, where he has won the last two editions, Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull’s recent pace has not matched McLaren’s race-day form. “We’ve had some good weekends where the gap came down,” he said. “But with only four races left, it’s still quite big. I’ll need to score a lot more points every weekend, which is not that straightforward.”
Red Bull trails McLaren in both championships, and Verstappen is counting on stronger competition from Ferrari and Mercedes to slow the McLarens’ momentum. “Being faster than them would be nice,” he said of the rival teams. “But first of all, we need to be faster than McLaren from now to the end of the season.”
The Dutchman hopes to extend his winning streak in Brazil and believes a boost in form — or a dose of fortune — could tilt the fight back in his favour. “If you gave me the 2023 season and told me I was 36 points behind with four races to go, I’d say no problem,” he added. “But this season has been quite different. Maybe I need a little bit of luck in one round.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton will pay tribute to Ayrton Senna this weekend, racing with a helmet featuring the Brazilian flag’s colors as he seeks to end his 20-race podium drought with Ferrari.