Max Verstappen has been written off before, only to claw his way back into contention with a blend of raw speed, relentless consistency and an unwillingness to concede defeat.
Through what has been a rocky 2025 campaign, the four-time world champion has rediscovered his winning touch, and suddenly the title race looks far less settled than it did just a month ago.
Back-to-back victories at Monza and Baku have reignited talk of a dramatic comeback. Verstappen now sits third in the standings on 255 points, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 69 and McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 44.
With seven races and several sprint races still to come, the mathematics remain stacked against him. Yet in Formula 1, momentum can be as decisive as numbers and right now, the Red Bull driver has it.
Red Bull’s recent upgrades appear to have restored balance to a car that faltered earlier in the season. The RB21 looked much sharper in Azerbaijan, where Verstappen converted pole position into a commanding victory after Piastri crashed out on the opening lap.
Crucially, reliability has also improved, a vital ingredient if Verstappen is to complete what would be one of the sport’s great turnarounds.
“Basically everything needs to go perfectly from my side, and then a bit of luck from their side I need as well, so it’s still very tough,” Verstappen admitted after his latest win, via Sky Sports F1 and formula1.com.
He acknowledged his margin for error is effectively zero.
“I mean, I don’t rely on hope. I personally don’t think about it. I just go race by race, what I have been doing basically the whole season – just trying to do the best we can, try to score the most points that we can. And then after Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
McLaren, meanwhile, endured a messy weekend in Baku, with team principal Andrea Stella admitting that Verstappen is a title threat. While Piastri still leads the championship, both he and Norris are under added pressure from the Dutchman’s resurgence.
If Verstappen maintains form, and McLaren’s drivers continue taking points off one another, the team may soon face the uncomfortable decision of backing a single contender.
Skeptics rightly point to the size of Verstappen’s deficit. One mechanical failure or non-finish could undo weeks of progress. But history offers reminders that titles can swing late. For Verstappen, the path is clear, keep winning and force McLaren into mistakes.
The odds remain long, but the narrative has definitely shifted. What once looked like a two-horse race is now a three-way fight. Verstappen has rediscovered his edge, and with momentum building, the reigning champion has given Formula 1 fans something tantalizing down the stretch. The possibility of a title fight that goes all the way to the wire.