Back-to-back wins reopen the fight
Max Verstappen has thrust himself back into the Formula 1 title conversation with consecutive victories in Italy and Azerbaijan, slicing Oscar Piastri's advantage by 35 points in three weeks. The gap now stands at 69 points to the Australian, with 199 left on the table across seven grands prix and three sprints. Lando Norris sits between them, 44 points ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen: everything must go perfectly
While acknowledging the long odds, Verstappen is no longer ruling himself out. He notes that everything must go perfectly on his side and that he likely needs a slice of bad luck for McLaren. A new floor introduced at Monza has helped deliver improved aero grip and balance on the RB21, but the coming high-downforce test in Singapore's Marina Bay — a venue he has yet to conquer — will be a key indicator of whether Red Bull's form carries across different layouts.
Norris wary: Red Bull upgrades make them a threat
Lando Norris cautioned against complacency after a tricky Baku weekend. He flagged Red Bull's recent upgrades and strong race pace, stressing that the championship fight is not a two-horse race. Norris admitted that some circuits will not play to McLaren's strengths, particularly lower-downforce venues, and that the MCL38 remains a fast but demanding car that can 'bite' when the margins are thin. He finished seventh in Baku, trimming Piastri's lead from 31 to 25 points.
'Bitten by Baku': Piastri's bruising weekend and apology
For Piastri, Azerbaijan was one to forget. He crashed late in a gusty, slippery qualifying session at Turn 3, prompting an overnight rebuild that included a survival cell change. The race unravelled almost immediately: a jumped start triggered anti-stall, dropping him to the back, and a subsequent lock-up ended in the barriers at Turn 5 on lap one. Post-race, he apologised to McLaren and praised the mechanics for their work, vowing to reset before Singapore.
Race dynamics: the DRS train that shaped the finish
Further up the order, a DRS train formed behind Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, who defended robustly to hold fifth. That stalemate kept faster cars like Yuki Tsunoda, Norris and Lewis Hamilton bottled up over the closing laps, limiting damage for McLaren despite Piastri's retirement.
The road ahead
Red Bull's step has put Verstappen within striking distance if the momentum continues, but McLaren still holds the points advantage. With seven rounds to go and a mix of track characteristics to navigate, the title picture remains open — provided Verstappen delivers near-perfection and McLaren reduces errors on its more challenging circuits.
