Featured Image Credit: Kym Illman / Contributor via Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, McLaren, Motorsport, Oscar Piastri, Red Bull Racing
James Taylor
Topics: Formula 1, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, McLaren, Motorsport, Oscar Piastri, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen can still win the Formula 1 world title without any McLaren DNFs.
The battle for the Drivers' Championship is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent years.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri currently leads the way with 336 points, holding a 22-point advantage over his teammate Lando Norris. But four-time world champion Max Verstappen has surged back into the title fight with several impressive performances and is now just 63 points behind the Australian.
With six race weekends remaining, including three sprint races, drivers still have plenty of opportunity to rack up points. And now Formula 1 fans are beginning to speculate whether Verstappen can complete a remarkable turnaround to retain his world title.
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On X, F1GuyDan wrote: "Who needs hopium: Max Verstappen didn't win in Singapore but he can still become drivers' champion without any McLaren DNFs if the final 6 GPs play out like this. Do you believe?"
He accompanied the post with a graphic showing the results Verstappen would need to lift the world title. According to the scenario, Verstappen would need to win every remaining race, while Norris and Piastri alternate between finishing second and third.
Under this outcome, Verstappen would finish the season on 447 points, ahead of Piastri with 445 and Norris on 428.
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Although it is highly unlikely that no other driver will finish in the top three for the remainder of the season, the scenario shows that Verstappen's title fight is still alive.
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But the Dutchman will need to avoid too many results similar to the Singapore Grand Prix, where George Russell cruised to victory.
For McLaren, Singapore was a successful weekend, as the team retained their Constructors' Championship title. Yet there are now signs that the team are struggling to manage two competitive drivers.
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Norris bumped his teammate into turn three during the race race, which prompted an angry radio message from Piastri, who said: “Yeah, I mean that wasn’t very team like, but sure.
“So, are we cool with Lando just barging me out of the way?”
Norris later responded: “It’s racing. I put it on the inside, I had a small correction, but nothing more than that. It was good racing.”
The McLaren drivers are racing under the so-called 'papaya rules' meaning they are free to race so long as they avoid crashing into each other.
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Having made contact in Singapore, McLaren bosses will be keen to ensure it does not escalate into a bigger incident at the next race in Texas.