Max Verstappen’s push for a fifth Formula One world championship hit another setback in Brazil, despite a spirited recovery drive that saw him claw his way from the pit lane to the podium.
The four-time champion arrived at Interlagos determined to reclaim ground from Lando Norris, who seized the championship lead after Mexico. But Verstappen’s weekend unravelled early when he was knocked out in Q1, qualifying only 16th, and could manage just fourth in the sprint.
Red Bull rolled the dice overnight, overhauling the car setup and fitting a new power unit to start from the pit lane. The gamble paid off, as Verstappen surged through the field to claim third place — a remarkable recovery, but one that still cost him crucial ground in the title fight.
By the end of the weekend, Verstappen had lost another 13 points to Norris, leaving him 49 points adrift with just three races and one sprint remaining. His bid for a fifth consecutive crown now demands near perfection and a little fortune.
For Verstappen to stay in contention heading to Abu Dhabi, he will need to win every remaining race — in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi — while hoping both McLaren drivers falter.
The permutations are tight:
- Norris would have to score fewer than 16 points across the next three races for Verstappen to catch up.
- Piastri must also avoid top-two finishes, scoring no more than 25 points between Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Even a P3 finish for Max Verstappen in Sao Paulo, with Norris and Piastri ahead, leaves his title hopes hanging by a thread.
To keep the championship alive, he’d need to win every remaining race and hope:
▪️ Norris finishes P5 or lower
▪️ Piastri finishes P3 or lower
▪️ Or… pic.twitter.com/eLIWoDCy3X— Sundaram R (@f1statsguru) November 8, 2025
If that unlikely sequence unfolds, the trio could end the season level on points, with Verstappen clinching the title on countback.
But as it stands, the odds are stacked against him. Norris’s consistency and McLaren’s form have made this a three-way fight that may hinge on a single mistake or a stroke of bad luck.
With only Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi left, the title remains mathematically alive, but unless chaos strikes, it’s Lando Norris’s championship to lose.
