Formula 1 has no shortage of drama, and the 2025 season has been a rollercoaster with one of its biggest storylines being whether Max Verstappen can crawl his way to the front and snatch the Driver’s Championship from Papaya boys? But, after the Singapore Grand Prix 2025, the chances of him winning are almost slimmer than the streets of Monaco.
And Verstappen himself seems to be pretty aware of this possibility, as he was seen counting himself out of the Drivers’ title contention. Yes, the reigning four-time champ, the Mad Max himself, is throwing in the towel, well, sort of. So, let’s see what he said and why Verstappen, the man who has dominated the last few years, is effectively waving the white flag this season.
Max Verstappen: The Man Who Fights Till The End
First off, let’s be clear, Max Verstappen isn’t someone who gives up easily. But 2025 has been a tough ride. McLaren’s dynamic duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, have been tearing up the track, building a gap that even Max is calling significant. Currently sitting 63 points behind Piastri with only six rounds left in the championship, the challenge to close that kind of deficit is massive. This isn’t just a small hurdle; it’s practically Everest in racing terms.
But rather than panic or throw a fit, Max is playing it cool, classic Verstappen style. He’s treating every race as a fresh one, focusing on maximising his points and enjoying the ride, not stressing about the math. “If we win, great. If not, life goes on,” he said, giving the vibe that he’s already thinking beyond this season, but still coming to race hard every single weekend. But this was the scene before Singapore.
Post Singapore Grand Prix 2025, Max Verstappen seemed to get a reality check as McLaren closed on the Constructor’s Championship 2025. When asked whether he sees himself in the Driver’s title contention, he said, “For that, you need to win. You need to dominate. We’re not doing that, or at least we’re not doing that this weekend. So, we’re not catching up enough. For that, you had to win today, and we didn’t. Yeah, that’s how it is. We already lost way too many points at the beginning of the season.”
“That’s quite clear, but we just try to see it race by race. We tried to do the best we could. This track is still not our favourite, I think also for the car, but nevertheless, second, I think, is still a great result,” he added
So, Is It Possible?
To put it simply, the numbers don’t lie. If Verstappen wants to clinch his fifth consecutive drivers’ crown, he needs to average about 10 points more than Piastri in every remaining race. That’s a tall order considering McLaren’s dominance and the car upgrades that have kept them ahead. Plus, Verstappen’s own Red Bull team has had its moments of struggle earlier this year, putting him on the back foot.
What’s interesting, though, is the buzz in the paddock. After back-to-back wins in Monza and Baku, Verstappen is showing glimmers of the form we know and love. It’s sparked talks, stirred excitement, maybe this isn’t over yet? With Mercedes cars now mixing it up as well, Max’s chances hinge not just on his own performances but also on his rivals’ faltering.
Sure, Verstappen is officially calling himself out of title contention with a laugh and a shrug, but deep down, the fire’s there. The man who’s won on every circuit he’s raced on (except one) isn’t going quietly. So, while the Driver’s Championship 2025 looks set to be a fight mainly between Piastri and Norris, Max Verstappen’s story adds the spice every F1 fan craves.
Also read: Singapore Grand Prix 2025: Full Recap And Results
