When the Formulation 1 season resumed following the Summer season Shutdown, two of the key storylines going through the grid centered on McLaren: When would they clinch their second-consecutive Constructors’ Championship title, and when would both Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris lock down the Drivers’ title?
Nevertheless, the champagne stays on ice because of Max Verstappen, who can begin excited about his personal title hopes after a dominant efficiency in Baku.
After capturing pole place in a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday that noticed a document variety of crimson flags, Verstappen went wire-to-wire on Sunday, taking the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for his second-straight win. With Piastri crashing on the opening lap, and Norris failing to capitalize after that incident and settling for a seventh-place end, Verstappen closed to inside 44 factors of Norris for second place within the Drivers’ Championship, and simply 69 factors of championship chief Piastri.
“They’re all a bit completely different, however I feel this weekend has been unbelievable for us. In fact, final weekend was already nice. However yeah, for us to win right here once more is simply unbelievable,” stated Verstappen trackside after the race. “And I feel additionally within the race, the automotive was working rather well. On each of the compounds, we had clear air on a regular basis, and you can then take care of your tyres. And yeah, it was fairly easy. In fact, it’s not simple round right here — very windy right this moment, so the automotive is at all times transferring round quite a bit. However yeah, in fact, extremely pleased with this efficiency.”
When the season resumed in late August, Norris had gained three out of 4 grands prix, together with the Hungarian Grand Prix, the place Verstappen completed a distant ninth. At that time within the season, Piastri led Norris by simply 9 factors, with Verstappen 97 factors behind the chief.
Since then, nevertheless, Verstappen has roared again into the struggle. After ending second on the Belgian Grand Prix (gained by Piastri with Norris retiring on account of a failure together with his MCL39), Verstappen has gained each the Italian Grand Prix and now the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. These two wins have jolted the title race and put the Purple Bull driver again within the combine.
With seven race weekends remaining — together with a trio of F1 Dash race weekends — Verstappen has definitely improved his possibilities of successful a fifth Drivers’ title.
Nevertheless, math and historical past might not be on his aspect, one thing the dwelling legend conceded on Sunday.
At this level final season, Verstappen loved a 59-point benefit over Norris within the Drivers’ Championship race, a spot that closed to 52 factors when Norris gained the Singapore Grand Prix in dominant style.
However that was as shut because the title chase obtained a yr in the past, with Verstappen finally clinching his fourth Drivers’ Championship in Las Vegas and finally successful the title by 63 factors.
Whereas he’s mathematically alive, as RaceFans famous through their Championship Factors Calculator, even when Verstappen had been to win the seven remaining grands prix — in addition to the three dash races — Piastri ending second in every of these occasions would see the Australian driver by means of to his first title.
Requested if the 2 current wins have given him a “smidgen of hope” that the title is inside vary, Verstappen pointed to the uphill climb.
“I imply, I don’t depend on hope. However it’s seven rounds left – 69 factors is quite a bit. So I personally don’t give it some thought,” stated Verstappen. “I simply go race by race, what I’ve been doing mainly the entire season — simply making an attempt to do the perfect we are able to, attempt to rating probably the most factors that we are able to. After which after Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
Past the maths is the historical past. Whereas Monza and the Baku Metropolis Circuit have been fertile floor for Verstappen, Singapore, the positioning of the subsequent race, has been a thorn in his aspect over his illustrious profession. Verstappen has by no means gained in Singapore, together with his greatest end coming a yr in the past when he completed second to Norris.
Greater than 20 seconds behind.
Verstappen famous that historical past on Sunday.
“Tough to say in the intervening time, however for certain the final two race weekends have been superb for us. Singapore — utterly completely different problem once more with the excessive downforce. So we’ll see what we are able to do there,” stated Verstappen trackside.
“Properly, I’ve by no means gained. Purple Bull has gained, proper? We’ll see. It’s utterly completely different. Excessive downforce. Plenty of deg on the tyres, so we’ll see what occurs. I actually don’t know in the intervening time,” added Verstappen.
Two spectacular weeks have put the prospects of a fifth Verstappen title again on the desk, and put the Purple Bull driver right into a place he has not been in since 2021: Because the hunter, and never the hunted.
If his large type continues by means of Singapore, and he breaks by means of together with his first win in that race?
