McLaren`s driver pairing, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, have pushed back against suggestions that the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, is no longer a candidate for the 2025 Formula 1 drivers` championship.
Currently, Piastri leads the standings by three points over Norris. Red Bull`s Verstappen sits in third place, 25 points behind the Australian after roughly one-third of the season has been completed.
McLaren`s car has shown clear speed superiority in the early part of the year. However, the introduction of a technical directive at this weekend`s Spanish Grand Prix, aimed at limiting front wing flexibility, has sparked discussion that the Woking team`s performance advantage might be reduced or potentially eliminated.
Speaking on Thursday before the race in Barcelona, Norris commented that “mathematically, the entire grid can win the championship right now.” He found the idea that the title fight was solely between him and Piastri “a bit silly,” highlighting that Verstappen still has plenty of opportunities to win and that Ferrari is expected to improve throughout the season.
Norris added, “Come on, we are racing Max every weekend. He`s been on the podium multiple times, he`s won races, he beat us fair and square in Imola because he was quicker. I don`t know what could possibly make you think it`s only between me and Oscar.”
Following his victory in Monaco last weekend, which was his first win since the season`s initial race, Norris closed the points gap to Piastri. Despite this, he insists that taking the championship lead would not change his overall strategy.
Norris stated, “It`s a great feeling to lead the championship and have more points than anyone. But it`s not something I dwell on; it doesn`t change anything I do day-to-day, how hard I work, or what I aim for.” He explained his focus is simply on trying to win each upcoming race, regardless of his position in the standings.
Piastri: Max Can`t Be Discounted
Piastri, who is also aiming for his inaugural F1 title, secured three consecutive victories to establish a 16-point lead earlier in the season but has not won in the two races since. The Australian, who has already engaged in intense wheel-to-wheel battles with Verstappen, remains cautious of the threat posed by the Dutch driver.
Piastri remarked, “I don`t think he can be counted out. The points difference isn`t very large currently, and they have shown genuine competitiveness at a reasonable number of circuits now.” He acknowledged that while McLaren has been stronger on some weekends, Red Bull appears to be developing their car and improving performance.
“So, I believe at this stage, Max is definitely still in the title race,” Piastri concluded.
Piastri anticipates Red Bull will be particularly strong in Barcelona because the track characteristics share similarities with Suzuka and Imola, circuits where Verstappen has claimed his two 2025 victories.
He elaborated, “I expect them to be fast. It`s a layout that is similar in some ways to where they have been quick this year. Generally, Max and Red Bull have been very strong on all the higher-speed circuits, and this is another one of those.” Piastri expects Red Bull to be “definitely in the fight this weekend” and is interested to see if other teams can challenge them.
Verstappen: It Doesn`t Feel Like a Fight
Verstappen, who is pursuing his fifth consecutive drivers` title, maintained that due to his rivals` superior pace, it doesn`t currently feel like a “fight” against the McLarens.
He commented, “For me, it doesn`t feel like a fight. I just try to perform at my best, have a bit of fun out there. It`s not like this season, up to this point, is going to be something I remember forever.”
Verstappen reiterated his preference for the feeling of dominating races, which he experienced in recent years, over the current battle for wins. However, he clarified that his competitive spirit, or “fight,” is always present.
He added, “I`m more excited when I know we can be super quick! I always aim to do my best, but this year, so far, has had its positives but also negatives, with some races where we were genuinely off the pace, which isn`t enjoyable.” He acknowledged that this competitive drive never disappears but clarified that the season hasn`t been particularly enjoyable or memorable for him so far.
Verstappen stated that his personal belief in whether he can win the title is irrelevant because it does not impact his performance on the track.
“It`s not that I don`t believe,” he said. “I simply arrive at the track and do the absolute best I can every weekend. I don`t need to have full belief or not.” He knows he maximizes his potential whenever he`s out there. “If that means the car is capable of P5, I`ll get P5. If it`s capable of winning, I`ll win.” He described this straightforward approach as energy-saving.
Marcus Prine