Red Bull still strong until the end of the season
On paper, the Asian round was supposed to be one of the toughest challenges for the Milton Keynes-based team. Yet, barring surprises such as George Russell’s strong performance in the previous round, Red Bull and the Dutch champion from Hasselt are not expected to face major setbacks in any of the remaining races of the 2025 Formula 1 calendar. Although Max Verstappen’s chances of reclaiming the world title are slim, the reigning world champion remains hungry for victory and has no intention of easing off.
For this reason, Max Verstappen will keep fighting to win as many races as possible, even if he is mathematically out of title contention. Furthermore, Verstappen reportedly took note of what he considered unsportsmanlike behavior from Lando Norris during qualifying in Singapore — something he immediately communicated to his race engineer Giampiero Lambiase after aborting his second Q3 lap. It is an episode the Dutchman is unlikely to forget anytime soon.
If McLaren has learned its lesson, the “Papaya Rules” must go
One thing is certain: Verstappen will remain a constant headache for McLaren’s pit wall strategists, both as a rival in the title fight and as a contender for individual race wins. The Dutchman will make no concessions. If, in the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, the RB21 once again proves competitive enough to challenge for victory, McLaren will have no choice but to reconsider its internal “Papaya Rules.”
If Andrea Stella’s team truly intends to secure a championship after 17 years of waiting, the strict fair play principles governing how Piastri and Norris race each other might become counterproductive. A strong return by Verstappen in the title battle could actually benefit Oscar Piastri, particularly within a pragmatic team structure. This would mean putting an end to team orders designed to correct strategic errors or to compensate one driver for mistakes made during races.
Piastri already paid the price in Hungary, where Norris won thanks to a strategy focused entirely on covering Charles Leclerc. Then came Monza, where the Australian had to hand back position to Norris due to a pit stop error by the team. Unless McLaren chooses a self-destructive path, logic dictates that they must now back the driver who is higher in the championship standings. If Verstappen keeps winning, he could turn into an unexpected ally in the broader context of the drivers’ title fight.
The Verstappen threat must be minimized
If Max Verstappen continues to win races in the coming Grands Prix, Oscar Piastri could focus solely on shadowing Lando Norris — a strategy that worked well between Monza and Singapore. Verstappen’s natural aggression in wheel-to-wheel battles is another factor the McLaren drivers will try to avoid. The Dutchman has nothing to lose at this point, giving him a significant psychological advantage for as long as he remains mathematically in contention for the title.
The 2025 season’s final chapter is shaping up to be a fierce, no-holds-barred duel. Beyond the six Grands Prix still on the calendar, there are also three Sprint weekends — starting with Austin. McLaren must stay united and avoid unnecessary risks with Verstappen looming close behind. It’s a fact the British team cannot afford to ignore if they want to keep their championship hopes alive.
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