Should McLaren fear Verstappen? Villeneuve and Hakkinen share their predictions
McLaren has already sealed the Constructors’ Championship at the Singapore Grand Prix. But the question now is: can the team also capture the Drivers’ title, or will Max Verstappen step in to spoil the celebration for the Woking-based squad?
During the Trento Sports Festival, two former Formula 1 World Champions, Mika Hakkinen and Jacques Villeneuve, shared their thoughts on the ongoing battle for the title. Since the beginning of the 2025 season, the main contenders have been the two McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. However, it seems that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are back in the game after a strong run of recent performances.
After a dominant start to the season by McLaren, the “papaya” team is now facing renewed pressure from the Dutch driver. Max Verstappen claimed back-to-back victories in Monza and Baku, which allowed him to close the gap on the McLaren duo. At the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen had to settle for second place, but he still managed to reduce the points deficit to both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Currently, the championship standings still see Oscar Piastri at the top with 336 points. Lando Norris follows closely behind with 314 points. Max Verstappen remains in third place, but the gap between him and the two McLaren drivers is shrinking. The Red Bull driver is now 41 points behind Lando Norris and 63 points adrift of Oscar Piastri.
Mika Hakkinen believes in McLaren
When discussing the title battle, Mika Hakkinen placed his trust in McLaren — the team he raced for during nine seasons and with which he won two World Championships in 1998 and 1999. The Finnish legend commented: “I have to say McLaren, of course. I’m sure the team will give clear orders to the drivers to avoid any internal problems. Both of them are doing an excellent job, but Lando has much more experience, and that counts a lot. Still, he has fewer points, so it’s hard to predict which one of them will come out on top.”
Hakkinen’s confidence in McLaren stems not only from his historic bond with the team but also from their technical consistency and operational excellence throughout the season. McLaren’s progress since the beginning of the 2025 campaign has been remarkable, and many experts agree that the team has produced one of the most balanced and competitive cars on the grid. Hakkinen emphasized that maintaining harmony between the two drivers will be essential if McLaren wants to secure both titles.
Villeneuve puts his faith in Verstappen
Jacques Villeneuve, however, holds a very different opinion. The 1997 World Champion believes Max Verstappen is still the man to beat. Speaking about the title race, Villeneuve explained: “This could be Max’s most beautiful championship win because the two McLaren drivers are struggling too much with the pressure. They need to wake up.” According to the Canadian, Verstappen’s biggest advantage lies in how he manages high-pressure moments, while the tension between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could work in Red Bull’s favor.
Villeneuve also pointed out that Max Verstappen’s strength goes beyond mental toughness. He elaborated: “Max is the best because he’s also a bit old school. He understands things through experience. He gives feedback to the engineers, sometimes even going against their data — and very often, he turns out to be right.”
In Villeneuve’s view, Verstappen’s driving intelligence and technical insight set him apart from the rest of the grid. The Canadian highlighted how the Dutch driver’s instinct and feel for the car recall an earlier era of Formula 1, when drivers had a greater influence on the car’s behavior and development.
He continued: “No one else does that anymore, and there’s a simple reason — the others just aren’t as good as he is. In the past, there were four or five drivers at a similar level to the best, like Ayrton Senna. That’s not the case now. These days, engineers want drivers who don’t talk too much, who just do exactly what they’re told. As a result, young drivers aren’t learning those things anymore.”
Villeneuve’s comments underline a broader criticism often made about modern Formula 1: the increasing reliance on data and simulation tools over driver instinct and mechanical sensitivity. Verstappen’s “old school” approach, according to Villeneuve, is what makes him stand out and keeps him at the top, even when the Red Bull car is not the dominant force it once was.
A close and unpredictable fight ahead
As the season enters its final stretch, the championship battle is shaping up to be one of the most intense in recent years. With both McLaren drivers in contention and Max Verstappen steadily closing in, fans are witnessing a fascinating three-way fight for the title. The dynamics between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will be particularly interesting to watch, as McLaren faces the challenge of managing internal competition without compromising team performance.
Meanwhile, Red Bull seems to have recovered some of the pace that had been missing earlier in the year, allowing Max Verstappen to get back into contention. His experience, combined with his mental resilience and exceptional consistency, make him a constant threat in any race weekend. As Villeneuve suggested, Verstappen thrives under pressure and tends to perform at his best when the stakes are highest.
For McLaren, the key to success will likely be strategy and teamwork. Both drivers have demonstrated strong pace and composure, but maintaining unity will be vital as the pressure increases. A single mistake or clash between teammates could open the door for Verstappen to capitalize and snatch the title in the closing rounds of the season.
Ultimately, the 2025 Formula 1 championship appears poised for a thrilling finale. Mika Hakkinen’s confidence in McLaren’s discipline and technical efficiency contrasts with Jacques Villeneuve’s belief in Max Verstappen’s instinctive brilliance and “old school” mentality. Whether McLaren can hold their ground or Verstappen delivers another late-season comeback remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: the next few races promise to deliver a spectacular showdown between three of the best drivers in modern Formula 1.
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