Max Verstappen is facing a challenging path to defend his Formula One drivers' championship title. After finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, he trails Lando Norris by 36 points. Norris secured
victory in Mexico, overtaking Verstappen in the standings. With four weeks remaining, including two sprint races, Verstappen's chances appear slim.
In Mexico, a late virtual safety car hindered Verstappen's progress, keeping him behind Charles Leclerc. This allowed Lando Norris to win and take the lead in the championship. Verstappen had hoped for a better outcome after his success at the United States Grand Prix but now feels less optimistic.
Reflecting on his performance, Verstappen stated, "I lost 10 points to Lando, so as I said before the weekend, everything needs to go perfectly to win. " He acknowledged that things didn't go as planned in Mexico and expressed concerns about their pace under different conditions.
Fought to the very end #F1 || #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/FCqNCCr2Pf
Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing)October 27, 2025
The upcoming races in Brazil and Las Vegas will be crucial for Verstappen. He hopes to avoid another disappointing weekend like Mexico. "I think it's going to be tough," he admitted. "But let's see what we can do on other tracks. " Understanding their performance issues is key for Red Bull.
The final two races are set for Qatar and Abu Dhabi. With Oscar Piastri just one point behind his McLaren teammate Norris, the competition remains fierce. Verstappen knows that every race counts if he wants to reclaim his championship lead.
As the season nears its end, Verstappen remains determined despite the challenges ahead. His focus is on improving performance and capitalising on any opportunities that arise during these critical weeks.
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