The Dutch driver arrives in Qatar 24 points behind but still in contention for the World Championship, reignited by McLaren’s disqualification. Verstappen, however, knows it will take more than a bit of luck to win. He appreciates McLaren’s decision not to impose team orders, insisting that Oscar Piastri is not a number two driver and must have his own opportunities.
Twenty-four points is not an insignificant gap, and Max Verstappen is fully aware of it. The Dutchman arrives in Qatar with the mathematical chance of winning the championship, a scenario he himself described as unimaginable just two and a half months ago when he was over a hundred points from the top of the standings.
Oscar Piastri’s dramatic drop and Red Bull’s steady improvement have certainly played a decisive role. Yet Max remains calm, aware that the fate of the championship is not entirely in his hands. In fact, simply reaching this point, challenging McLaren’s dominance, is the clearest testament to Red Bull’s work throughout the season, especially since Monza.
Realistically, the chase seemed over after the Las Vegas race. Then, the unexpected and dramatic disqualification of both McLarens suddenly reignited the fight — albeit reduced to a final, slim hope. Winning alone will not be enough to put the championship back on Milton Keynes’ track.
“I was flying home when they made the decision. I knew, of course, that there was an investigation regarding the plank, and when you are too low, you are too low. There are a lot of things you can discuss, but every team tries to run as low as possible. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes it’s harder. But there are no excuses: when you are too low, you are too low,” Max explained.
“Of course, the gap has reduced a bit, but it’s still 24 points. Many things need to go right until the end to have a chance, but it is definitely a better chance than before. We’ll take it, but we also have to be aware that, even if we win everything, a bit of luck is still needed.”
Compared to the McLaren drivers, the four-time World Champion has an advantage: experience. Having been in similar scenarios before, Max knows what it’s like to be at the center of a championship battle. This experience inevitably helps manage pressure, as certain dynamics change when the coveted crown is at stake and the fight becomes intense.
Verstappen acknowledges that experience is helpful but knows that without the best car, it is difficult even to imagine overturning the current situation. “It definitely helps a bit. If I look at myself at 21 versus now, yes, having experience helps in the way you approach a race weekend.”
“Even if some say it doesn’t matter or shouldn’t matter, it actually does. But in the end, the most important thing is to have a fast car. So what we need to do is make sure we are faster than them, or at least equal. And then, beyond that, you also need a bit of luck.”
McLaren confirmed that it will not implement team orders or favour either driver in the title fight, ensuring equal opportunities for both. The hope, however, is that the matter can be resolved quickly, or at least reach Abu Dhabi with a safe enough margin to approach the final weekend with more calm.
“I think it’s perfect!” Verstappen joked when asked about McLaren’s decision not to enforce team orders. “I don’t think there’s a better way than letting them race freely, also because what would you say to Oscar — that he can’t fight anymore? I mean, if they had told me that, I wouldn’t have even shown up and I would have told them to go…”
“If you are a winner, a real driver, then you try. Even if you are behind — otherwise what’s the point of showing up? Otherwise, you can easily be labeled a number two driver, which I don’t think he wants. And so, as far as I’m concerned, yes, I know I’m tied on points with Oscar. As I said before, many things still need to go right, but I think it should be that way: let them race freely, and hopefully we can have a great battle until the end.”
With the Qatar Grand Prix weekend about to kick off under the Lusail floodlights, Max Verstappen might be the outsider mathematically – but he’s loving every second of the chaos and clearly relishing the idea of McLaren’s internal battle running all the way to Abu Dhabi.
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