After the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August, Max Verstappen was 104 points behind world championship leader Oscar Piastri – and seemed almost defeated in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Less than two months later, the four-time champion is now just 40 points behind Piastri and 26 behind Lando Norris.
Red Bull’s resurgence in recent races and Verstappen’s strong performances brought him back into the title race. When he took victory at the United States Grand Prix, Verstappen admitted for the first time that he was back in the thick of things, noting after his victory lap at the Circuit of the Americas that “there is a chance.”
- Netherlands: Verstappen comes second behind Piastri after Norris defect
Verstappen’s gap to first place after the race: 104 points
There was a bit of luck for Verstappen when Lando Norris had an oil leak in the final stages of the race at Zandvoort. That cost the Brits the chance to take second place and stay close to Piastri in the title fight. Verstappen secured second place on the podium behind Piastri, but his gap grew into three figures.
Nevertheless, Red Bull appeared revitalized after the summer break. These were the first weeks under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, as Christian Horner had been removed as team boss. Mekies helped facilitate a number of improvements implemented at the team’s base in Milton Keynes.
McLaren largely dominated Verstappen’s home race, but the Dutchman’s expectations of a podium finish had not been particularly high. He suggested at the time that the Red Bull team might even have difficulty getting into the top five. However, big things were about to happen at Red Bull’s base…
- Italy: Victory for Verstappen, McLaren in problems
Verstappen’s gap to first place after the race: 94 points
After a miserable 2024 Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull was determined to turn things around in Monza. Part of Red Bull’s problems last year was that there was no effective low-downforce package, with it being suggested that tight budgeting due to budget limits had led to a compromise solution when adjusting the rear wing.
Red Bull also brought further developments to the RB21 and introduced a number of revisions to the underbody. These were more forward-thinking changes, designed to ensure the car was stronger even on some of its weaker tracks – including Baku and Singapore. The car’s sensitivity to bumps has been mitigated and a more stable level of downforce has been created.
Verstappen raced to a record pole position, officially the fastest average speed lap ever recorded in Formula 1, almost a tenth faster than Norris’ best Q3 performance. And although Verstappen had to cede the lead to Norris after rumbling over the curbs, he soon regained it – McLaren didn’t really have anything to oppose him.
McLaren’s decision to help Norris due to a slow pit stop by having the team swap drivers’ positions via stable order. This helped Verstappen indirectly, as he was only 94 points behind Piastri at the end of the European season.
- Azerbaijan: Piastri’s horror show gives Verstappen free rein
Verstappen’s gap to first place after the race: 69 points
While Verstappen was excellent in Baku, securing pole from a chaotic qualifying position by almost half a second over Carlos Sainz, Piastri endured a horrific trip to the Caspian Sea.
First, Piastri hit the wall in qualifying and only started ninth, but that was just the beginning of his misfortune. The Australian made a jump start, braked to compensate and then fell back to the back of the field. Then he hit the wall in Turn 5 while trying to overtake Esteban Ocon on the outside. He then braked, which ended his race after less than half a lap.
Norris also struggled from seventh on the grid, stuck behind Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda as overtaking proved difficult on the roads of Azerbaijan. At the front, Verstappen took an undisputed victory – and reduced Piastri’s lead to less than the margin of three Grands Prix.
- Singapore: McLaren’s internal battle helps Verstappen to second place
Verstappen’s gap to first place after the race: 63 points
Although Verstappen only gained six points on Piastri’s lead, every little step helps. Race victory at Marina Bay went to George Russell, while Verstappen spent the closing stages trying to keep Norris at bay as the McLaren driver tried to force a gap at the turn 16-17 chicane.
Verstappen was annoyed by Norris in the final stages of qualifying and blamed the McLaren’s dirty air for not having a chance of pole. Regardless, Verstappen repaid him with a strong block, forcing Norris into a series of numerous attacks.
Norris made contact with Piastri at Turn 3 on the first lap of the race as he fought his way into third place. Piastri finished fourth, which is why Verstappen couldn’t make up too much ground.
- USA: Verstappen dominant, Piastri without points in the sprint
Verstappen’s gap to first place after the race: 40 points
McLaren’s disastrous first corner in the sprint at the Circuit of the Americas ensured that polesitter Verstappen – who fended off an early attack from Russell – was able to nibble another eight points from Piastri’s lead without much resistance.
Verstappen then secured the second pole of the weekend and received indirect help in the race as Leclerc, who started with soft tires, got a better start from the first corner than McLaren. The Red Bull driver judged his pace to be similar to Norris’s, but the eleven-second lead he had gained thanks to Leclerc’s defense gave him a comfortable lead.
This was reduced to six seconds after the pit stops, but another block from Leclerc – who managed the undercut against Norris – eliminated any worry lines at Red Bull.
Piastri, on the other hand, struggled with grip and confidence throughout qualifying and the race – perhaps he was more affected by the lack of driving time in the sprint race than Norris. He finished fifth, just over a second behind a stricken Hamilton at the end of the race.