Follow us on Google Discover Max Verstappen is now considered to be a serious contender for the 2025 Formula 1 title with just six races to go.
The Dutchman’s United States Grand Prix weekend is going swimmingly well, with both McLaren drivers retiring from the sprint race as he claimed another victory. The deficit to drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri is now just 55 points.
Verstappen still needs to perform at a very high level for the remainder of the season if he wants to win an unlikely fifth consecutive title, but he can thank Red Bull for recent improvements to their car and processes. Before the summer break, he was considered down and out, but now he’s back.
McLaren have made a Red Bull realisation and now believe that the team’s progress is legitimate after reaching a difficult track and performing well in Austin. Verstappen’s mentality in the title battle is good, and he has removed a lot of intensity from the scenario. It may be why he is winning so much again.
Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty ImagesCharles Leclerc angry at Max Verstappen for holding him up during United States Grand Prix qualifying
Just a few weeks ago, Verstappen was left upset at Lando Norris during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, after he felt that the Briton had held him up on purpose. Verstappen knew his Norris comment would make headlines, but it’s not the sort of thing that bothers him.
Verstappen was accused of hypocrisy after complaining about a move that George Russell pulled on him during Saturday’s sprint race in Austin. He felt as though an aggressive move by the Mercedes driver had crossed the line.
In qualifying, despite securing a vital pole position, he managed to get on the bad side of one of his other rivals during the final runs in Q3. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc felt as though the 28-year-old had got in his way on purpose.
Verstappen failed to make the line in time to have a second attempt in Q3, which would have been a frustrating occurrence. Fortunately, his first lap had been good enough for him to land top spot by three tenths at the end of running.
“What Max did is [frustrating],” Leclerc said over the radio. “He cannot complain in Singapore when he does the same elsewhere, so. Anyway, f——-. It’s a shame for the traffic.”
READ MORE: Max Verstappen wins US Grand Prix Sprint race after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri crash
Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty ImagesWhy Max Verstappen will need to watch out for Charles Leclerc during the United States Grand Prix
Leclerc’s lap was good enough to land him third place on the grid in the end, on the clean side of the grid and just behind Verstappen.
With nothing to lose, he can afford to be as aggressive as he would like to be into turn one, which Verstappen will need to be wary of.
He cannot risk a collision and it makes getting a good start in the Grand Prix that much more important. There’s a little added pressure.
The four-time champion will know that on race pace, he has plenty in the tank to beat the Ferrari, but a little patience may be needed if Leclerc gets by him. There’s no point in slamming the door or being too optimistic in the opening stages. It’s not always where the race is won, but it can be where it is lost.