Max Verstappen can still become world champion after the Brazilian Grand Prix, even if the scenario remains complicated. Here’s exactly how the Red Bull driver could still win the title, with all the mathematical possibilities explained in detail.
Until the middle of this Formula 1 season, it seemed that the drivers’ championship battle was going to be an all-McLaren affair, with either Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris emerging as champion. However, a series of mistakes from the British team completely reopened the fight. Verstappen has since significantly reduced the gap, reigniting Red Bull’s hopes of staying in contention for the title. Yet after the race in São Paulo, where Norris took a crucial victory, the Dutchman knows he will need a flawless final stretch of the season to keep his championship dream alive. Below are all the possible points combinations that could allow Max Verstappen to claim the 2025 world title.
Verstappen champion: far-fetched dream or real possibility? The math doesn’t lie
After the Brazilian Grand Prix, the standings are crystal clear: Lando Norris leads the championship with 390 points, followed by Oscar Piastri with 366, and Max Verstappen in third place with 341. This means the Red Bull driver trails Norris by 49 points and Piastri by 25.
With only three races and one Sprint Race left on the calendar — in Las Vegas, Qatar (which includes the Sprint), and Abu Dhabi — Max Verstappen can still score a maximum of 86 points if he wins every remaining race and all fastest laps. Achieving three consecutive “hat-tricks” would already be an incredible feat for Red Bull, and even that might not be enough to secure the title.
In fact, McLaren now has its destiny entirely in its own hands. Even if Max Verstappen were to collect the maximum possible points, Lando Norris would need to score fewer than 37 points across the remaining events — equivalent to two fourth-place finishes and a fifth — while Piastri would need fewer than 61.
Therefore, putting the math aside, it becomes clear that Max Verstappen can only win the championship if both McLaren drivers encounter major issues or take points off each other. Regardless of the odds, the Dutchman is determined to give everything he has in the final rounds, ensuring that he finishes the 2025 Formula 1 season without regrets, knowing he pushed himself and Red Bull to the absolute limit.
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