Max Verstappen turns the tide with back-to-back wins
After a mid-season slump, Max Verstappen has thrust himself back into the 2025 Formula 1 title conversation with commanding victories at Monza and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The Red Bull driver won from pole at both events, marking the first time this year McLaren failed to win consecutive races and signaling a shift in competitive momentum.
The points picture: from 104 down to striking distance
Just after the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points. Two wins later, the gap to Piastri has been trimmed by 35 to 69 points, while Lando Norris sits 44 points ahead of Verstappen and 25 behind his McLaren team-mate. With 199 points still available across seven grands prix and three sprints, the mathematics keep the Dutchman very much in play.
Writers and readers weigh in
Analysis across the paddock points to a “surprise third contender” emerging for the 2025 crown, as McLaren faces a dip in form just as Red Bull has rediscovered qualifying and race-day sharpness. Our colleagues’ assessments highlight how Verstappen’s Monza/Baku domination coincided with McLaren’s relative downturn, with Norris still scoring strongly but unable to halt Verstappen’s points swing.
Fans are feeling the shift, too. In a recent poll, 53.3% of respondents believe Verstappen is now firmly back in the title hunt, 43% still see the fight as an internal McLaren duel between Piastri and Norris, and 4.7% remain undecided.
Key takeaways after Baku
- Verstappen’s form upswing aligns with a tighter development race and cleaner execution from Red Bull.
- McLaren remains quick, but small setbacks have opened the door to a three-way championship narrative.
- The remaining seven rounds and three sprints provide ample opportunity for big-point swings.
Outlook
If Red Bull sustains this level and McLaren cannot consistently convert pace into maximum points, Verstappen’s march toward a fifth title becomes more than plausible—it becomes the story to beat.
