The second half of the 2025 season was undoubtedly very lively, thanks to Max Verstappen’s comeback in the battle for the world championship.
Lando Norris ultimately became world champion, an incredible achievement. However, it was Max Verstappen who made the final part of the season particularly intriguing, keeping the fight for the drivers’ title alive until the very end—a battle that until the summer break seemed like a McLaren family affair between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
This was at least the case until the Zandvoort round, where the gap between Verstappen and the two McLaren drivers was around 104 points.
From his home weekend onward, Max Verstappen regained his form, stringing together a series of strong performances that significantly reduced the points gap in the drivers’ standings. However, defending his title appeared nearly impossible.
Despite this, starting from Monza, Red Bull came back stronger with the RB21, allowing Verstappen to achieve the results we saw: seven wins in the final nine races, only missing out on two occasions where he lost valuable points that could have secured his fifth world championship.
The championship was ultimately decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the season finale, won by Lando Norris. Former F1 driver Timo Glock described the McLaren driver as a worthy champion.
“If you are on top at the end, you have done many things right over the course of the year,” Glock told F1-Insider.
Nonetheless, for the former Jordan, Toyota, and Virgin driver, Max Verstappen deserves credit for taking the title fight to the very last race.
“We have to thank Max Verstappen for once again delivering such an incredible performance. When he was 104 points behind, we all thought: well, that’s it,” Glock added.
Glock impressed by Norris
When Verstappen found himself 104 points behind, Lando Norris also had a reasonable margin over Oscar Piastri, following the latter’s retirement due to a technical failure at the Dutch Grand Prix.
In terms of results, many expected the championship to be decided before the final race. Yet, it turned into a three-way fight all the way to Abu Dhabi.
“It was incredible how Verstappen managed to make this world championship so exciting. As for the greatest driver of all time, there’s certainly no need to discuss—right now, that’s Max Verstappen,” Glock said.
For Timo Glock, Verstappen represents the best driver on the grid. However, he also showed great respect for Lando Norris and the way he handled the championship. The new world champion is very open about his weaknesses, something Glock appreciated in watching him.
“He’s open, he admitted what his weaknesses are, yet he stayed true to himself. It’s fantastic to see how today’s drivers are not just made of steel.”
Now that he has secured his first world title, Lando Norris will aim to become a two-time world champion. Timo Glock believes this is possible with the right car.
“In terms of style, he’s not Max Verstappen; he has often said so himself. With the right opportunity and the right car, he has a real chance to fight for the championship. However, competing against Max will always be tough,” Glock concluded.
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