Is Verstappen Out of the Title Fight Ahead of the Brazilian GP?
With only one point separating the championship leader and his teammate, and four-time champion Max Verstappen only 35 points behind that, the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix looked like it could’ve been a pivotal moment in the WDC title fight. As the Sprint Race kicked off, it quickly became clear that anyone hoping to usurp Lando Norris as the current championship leader was going to have a harder time than anticipated. Both Verstappen and the now second-place Oscar Piastri needed to score points to stay close to Norris, but Piastri retired early, and Verstappen was unable to make the podium. As a result, Norris has extended his lead to nine points over his teammate and Verstappen.
A shaky qualifying won’t help Verstappen close the gap either, as he had what is likely the worst qualifying of his entire career. The Red Bull driver, a champion, is set to start in 16th position on Sunday after being unable to advance past Q1 of qualifying, a career first, based purely on performance. Norris, on the other hand, is in pole position and will have an excellent chance to extend his lead significantly. At this point in the season, if Norris takes a substantial lead, it’s unlikely that there are enough points available in the remaining races for Verstappen to have any chance at the title, especially if he ends the race in the back of the grid. Many are disappointed with his performance, as fans had hoped for an exciting title fight as the season comes to a close.
Though the Sprint and qualifying have gone poorly for the Dutch driver, it’s simply too early to rule Verstappen out yet. With rain clouds on the horizon, he still has a chance not only to make it to the podium but even to overtake Norris for the race victory. A year ago, at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen had one of the greatest performances of his career. Starting from 17th position, he took advantage of the rain and maneuvered his way to the very front, taking a complete victory. It seems miraculous, but as Verstappen is arguably the best driver on the grid and seems to excel in wet races, there’s a very good chance we could see a similar race tomorrow.
