The Formula 1 championship is going down to the wire. This season has not disappointed. Earlier this year I wrote that its McLaren’s Championship to lose. It turns out those words are more prophetic than I originally thought. Max Verstappen is storming his way back into the championship while McLaren continues to trip over their own feet like a newborn fawn. Verstappen has finished first in five of the last eight races. He podiumed the other three. Verstappen’s rise is overshadowing McLaren’s season and threatening to overtake their season completely.
Last week, McLaren handed Verstappen a gift at the race, when both McLaren’s were disqualified at the conclusion of the Las Vegas Grand Prix for excessive skid plate wear. This week, McLaren’s strategy stumbled when they didn’t take advantage of the early caution flag at lap seven. Red Bull did, working a magical undercut strategy and earning first place.
Lando Norris struggled this week in qualification, in the sprint and in the grand prix. Oscar Piastri had the McLaren pace as he is aiming to yank victory from the jaws of defeat. Yet, even Piastri’s blistering pace was not enough to overcome McLaren’s fumbled strategy this weekend. In McLaren’s vow to keep things even for Norris and Piastri, they ultimately hamstrung both drivers. Pitting at least one of them during the yellow flag would have given them a shot to compete with Verstappen in Qatar. In hindsight, when the results are in, McLaren finally acknowledges the error of their ways.
Max Verstappen is on a magical run. After his win at Emila, Verstappen went on an eight-race drought, failing to finish first, and hitting the podium only twice. The Red Bull car was not competitive. They struggled to find pace. The drought began to break with a second-place finish at the Netherlands. That race started a 9-race run wherein Verstappen has either won or podiumed heading into the final race of the season.
When I saw Verstappen win the Texas Grand Prix (five races ago), I thought he has a chance. However, at the time, I didn’t think those chances were realistic. At that moment, McLaren’s lead was too much. Max’s performance in Mexico showed that Red Bull just didn’t have pace and were beginning to return to their midseason failures.
When they struggled to find pace in Brazil, Red Bull changed out their engine, knowing that Max would start the race last. Verstappen did what Verstappen does in the wet, and he weaved his way thru the field driving his way to third place. His Brazil drive put the rest of the grid on notice that Red Bull is coming.
Max Verstappen has been calm, cool and collected during these last nine races. He is a four-time champion. Max has been to the mountain top. There is no need for him to feel pressure. He is driving beyond the limits of his car and having a blast doing it.
McLaren’s car is superior. Red Bull’s driver is the best. The stage is set for an epic championship showdown on 7 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi!
