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29 Oct 20:00
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29 Oct 21:45
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POWER SHIFT LOOMS AS MAX VERSTAPPEN POUNCES ON MCLAREN’S COSTLY MISTAKES
Oscar Piastri leads the F1 standings, but Max Verstappen's momentum is undeniable. With McLaren holding a 1-2, the title fight intensifies. Can Piastri fend off a charging Verstappen and intra-team rivalry with Lando Norris?
Max Verstappen - COURTESY/PHOTO
Oscar Piastri has the advantage. Max Verstappen is the one with the momentum. McLaren's automobile is faster than its performance indicates. So who is actually in charge of a Formula 1 title duel that is getting more and more interesting?
This is still very much Piastri's championship to lose, according to the fundamental statistics. Verstappen is 40 points ahead of him, and he could (almost) afford to lose to him in every sprint and grand prix before the season ends and still win the championship. That is not how he would like to win it.
In the meantime, Lando Norris has reestablished his relationship with his teammate and repaired the majority of the harm caused by his retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix. Norris, who is only 14 points behind Piastri, is unquestionably involved. This complicates matters for McLaren, which must continue to deal with two drivers openly vying for a championship that Verstappen has a chance to win.
What McLaren is holding
The fact that McLaren drivers finished first and second in the championship shows that the team still has the power to control its own fate.
Andrea Stella, the team's chief, is eager to emphasise this point. Three races ago in Azerbaijan, Stella called Verstappen a real contender for the championship.
Stella remarked, "The threat for me is the same as there was in Baku," following Verstappen's victory at the US Grand Prix.
"I mean it when I say something. It is due to the experience, an awareness of the pattern, and an understanding of the circuits we would encounter starting in Baku.
"There is no mystery in my opinion, and we are aware that Max becomes a very serious contender for victory once he receives the necessary materials.
Neither our perception of the circumstance nor our actions are altered by it. All we need to do is maintain performing at our best and having enjoyable weekends. From this vantage point, if we consider a race like Baku, we did not execute a flawless race or maximise performance.
"There is no doubt that we have a great chance to win the drivers' championship this season; it is not in the hands of anybody else. That is the mindset we will have and the one we wish to have."
It is unquestionably the proper mindset to adopt. There were undoubtedly chances for McLaren to perform better in the US, Singapore, and Azerbaijan. Red Bull did not always outpace Piastri and Norris based only on speed. They have underperformed as a group due to a variety of situations, sometimes involving the driver, sometimes the team, and occasionally both.
However, there is room for improvement, which is the source of the assurance or hope that McLaren can still dominate the race for the championship. The distinction between that and what is actually occurring, however, is what matters.
The factor of form
The championship standings tell one story, but form tells another. Even though Verstappen still has a lot of work ahead of him, he has a significant advantage in this title fight because he has defeated Piastri by 64 points in the last four weekends.
Verstappen is now acknowledging that "for sure the probability is there"—a significant change from a few races ago, when he was not even considering the possibility of taking home the championship.
Verstappen responded, "No," when asked if he would have trusted someone who told him he would be in contention at this time, given that he was four races ago and 104 points down. I would have called him a fool.
"But with the automobile, we managed to find a good way. That is how easy it is.
McLaren is struggling since Piastri and Norris are now fighting at two consecutive races, team orders continue to be a nuisance, and Red Bull's competitive comeback is now apparent. In championship run-ins, this is nothing new. Although McLaren would point out that it is merely "threatening" to do so—it has not yet, and it might not—it is threatening to ruin their attempt to win both championships.
The McLarens' really sticky patch—Norris's engine shutting down at Zandvoort, Piastri crashing out in Baku, and the two of them being eliminated in the same incident during the Austin sprint—has greatly aided Verstappen, who is currently on a roll and catching up. Because of this, Verstappen has amassed more points than the two McLarens combined since the summer break.
If Piastri and Norris' seasons remain as resilient as they have been, Verstappen's streak will not simply continue; the massive points swings will continue. Additionally, he still requires assistance because time is running out.
There are 141 points up for grabs after two sprints and five grand prix. It will be very challenging for Verstappen to win every race, and even if he does, he will only be 37 points ahead of Piastri if Piastri finishes second in each of the five grand prix and the final two sprints. Verstappen is therefore not entirely in charge of his own fate.
However, the two McLarens taking points off one another might provide Verstappen with the assistance he still requires. The theoretical Verstappen gain increases by three points in each grand prix and by one additional point in each of the two sprints if Norris continues to outpace Piastri. Perhaps more if cars like Mercedes and Ferrari can swerve on some of the remaining tracks.
Verstappen's unrelenting victories and Piastri consistently finishing behind Norris until the conclusion of the season add up to a 54-point advantage. To put it another way, Verstappen would win.
Verstappen's main benefit
Since the two drivers are vying for their first world championship, McLaren is not considering the prospect of pressuring Norris to back Piastri's pursuit for the championship.
Stella stated, "We can also expand the gap to Max because there are five races and two sprints." That is my perspective.
"Our car is getting fantastic tracks, but I believe there is more that we could have used from it and, to a lesser extent, the drivers themselves. They acknowledge that they could have performed better than in some of the earlier races.
We view the upcoming five races as chances to close the gap with Max, and mathematics will be the only factor that will influence the decision to call a driver. Until this is resolved mathematically, we will not close the door."
Stella is communicating effectively. The team and drivers are responsible for adhering to it. In contrast to McLaren, Verstappen and Red Bull have essentially been faultless since the summer break, as he suggests.
Additionally, keep in mind that Verstappen has endured the pressure cooker of the championship on multiple occasions. Red Bull has, too. Their competitors haven't: for both drivers, this is their first genuine opportunity, and for many at McLaren, it is the first drivers' title on the line.
Creeking in this situation is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a reflection of the unfathomably intense truth that only a select few have truly experienced. Verstappen will be stronger as a result of his own shaky times in 2021.
This is perhaps his greatest benefit. Although Piastri and Norris (who at least have some experience from a failed attempt to get into title contention last year) are unknown at this level, we know what Verstappen can accomplish in such situations. Under the most strain are the candidates with the least amount of experience.
Who is in charge then? It is not Verstappen, but it relies on your priorities—points, momentum, psychology, or experience. Not quite yet. Even still, a lot of people might support him from this position.
Even if it is a new position for him, he is still the underdog and the outsider in the title run-in, which seems to bring out the best in him when he has a car like the Red Bull.
However, Verstappen would be far less unhappy to lose this championship than Piastri and Norris would be. That further illustrates who should or is in charge, notwithstanding Verstappen's obvious threat.
RED BULL STAY CALM, COOL, AND CONFIDENT DESPITE MCLAREN MOMENTUM
Red Bull's Laurent Mekies denies their 2025 car focus is due to 2026 PU concerns, calling it a strategic choice to improve development tools. As Lando Norris retakes the title lead, the F1 championship battle intensifies.
Red Bull Unfazed by McLaren Rise - COURTESY/PHOTO
In Mexico, McLaren CEO Andrea Stella implied that Red Bull's choice to continue working on its 2025 vehicle was a reflection of a lack of clarity surrounding the upcoming Red Bull-Ford power unit.
However, that notion has been rejected by team manager Laurent Mekies and Dr. Helmut Marko.
Mekies stated it has nothing to do with 2026.
"We would have too many unanswered questions going into 2026 if we did not get the most out of this car by the end of the season. We made the decision to spend more money on this vehicle in order to fix its shortcomings and increase its speed.
It greatly increases our confidence in our 2026 tools, strategies, and techniques. Yes, the new project will require less time and effort, but it was a deliberate choice. Performance has nothing to do with it.
According to the Frenchman, the team's strategy is centered on comprehension rather than risk. "We think there will be a net benefit, so we are doing this. We can apply our methods to 2026 and are now verifying them. If it led to difficulties, we would not do it.
Yes, there is a cost, but we think it is worthwhile.
Red Bull's momentum was halted by Mexico as Norris resumed his winning ways, despite Verstappen's recent race surge. Despite replacing an unproductive Oscar Piastri as the championship leader, Verstappen actually cut his overall lead to 36 points.
Norris' resounding win was a welcome change for Stella. Verstappen is still a competitor, but we have the advantage in the next races, he stated.
We have demonstrated that we have a car that can win races and, in some situations, dominate, which has boosted confidence in the championship.
This is the most crucial element that permits Lando and Oscar to compete for the Drivers' Championship, the Italian engineer continued. It has to do with competitiveness, not mathematics. Although the previous races in Austin, Baku, Singapore, and Monza were challenging, we have now once again proven our strength.
In Mexico, Piastri's decline worsened, but Stella stayed positive. Oscar claimed that despite losing some points to Verstappen, he gained a lot of knowledge this past weekend. To make sure you are competitive in every situation during the last stretch, you make that kind of investment. We are stronger and more hopeful when we leave Mexico.
Marko of Red Bull concurred that the battle is still open. "It is no longer assured that one team dominates at a circuit, and there are still 116 points available," he remarked.
We still have a shot. Since Max is the center of attention, I hope the two McLarens stick to their fair play policy.
Verstappen's pace in Mexico, according to Marko, was more powerful than it seemed. In race trim, we knew we would perform better. Max compared himself to a hunting hound, saying that once he scents anything, all else vanishes and he attacks.
But at McLaren, the focus is already shifting from gearboxes to mentalities. Now at the top of the rankings, Norris is under increased scrutiny after the Mexican fans jeered him.
"The question now is whether Norris can take use of his second chance as title leader - or if things will turn unstable again," former Formula One driver Timo Glock told Sky Deutschland. Has he comprehended why the pressure was too severe for him earlier, why he couldn't drive freely back then?
The odds are on his side if he has and has figured out how to deal with it, Glock continued. It is easier said than done, though. It is a completely different picture once the helmet is on and the pressure increases.
JANNIK SINNER BREAKS SILENCE ON POSSIBLE DAVIS CUP REVERSAL
Jannik Sinner is standing firm on his decision to skip the 2025 Davis Cup, showing frustration at repeated questions. The Italian star prioritises his off-season and 2026 Australian Open preparation over defending the title.
Jannik Sinner Addresses Buzz Around His Davis Cup Future - PHOTO: EPA
When Jannik Sinner's decision to skip the 2025 Davis Cup Finals next month was brought up again, he appeared a little miffed.
Top players commit to competing in the finals because of its scheduling, which runs from November 18 to November 23. They would only have a little more than a month off until 2026 starts if they played until late November.
During Team Italy's championship runs in 2023 and 2024, Sinner was their lucky charm. The nation's remarkable recent supremacy in the sport was established by the women's victories in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2024 and 2025.
Even if the 2025 finals will be placed in Bologna, Italy's chances of winning the Davis Cup for a third time in a row appear to be slim after Sinner declared he would not participate.
The four-time Grand Slam champion said he had previously won two Davis Cups with his Italian colleagues and that he planned to use the additional week to get ready for the Australian Open in 2026.
Nicola Pietrangeli, a fellow Italian legend and two-time French Open champion, was not pleased with Sinner's choice or his justification for it. He believes that modern players are more concerned with money than with patriotism and that it was disrespectful to their nation.
Sinner stated that while people have the right to their opinions, he did not wish to contribute anything further in reaction to the criticism. It is possible that the ATP world No. 2 assumed the topic would be abandoned at that point.
Rather, a reporter at the 2025 Paris Masters questioned Sinner about the possibility of changing his mind. It is still mathematically conceivable to finish as the year-end No. 1 because Sinner had stated that it would be impossible before Alcaraz's surprise defeat by Cameron Norrie in Paris.
Compared to his response to Pietrangeli's and others' criticism, Sinner's response was even more succinct and direct. The 24-year-old reiterated that he had nothing else to say and indicated the choice had been made.
"No, the choice has been made. However, I covered everything a few days ago.
Sinner's frustration with the inquiries surrounding his Davis Cup selection was evident. Even though it makes some sense, missing a home team event is an unavoidable consequence of being a top player.
Recently, Sinner criticised the four Grand Slams.
Sinner was irritated with the four Grand Slams in a different interview for not doing more to address concerns about prize money and other advantages, including healthcare and pensions, that were brought up by elite players earlier this year.
The Wimbledon champion this year expressed frustration that the major events wanted to address some other concerns before fully interacting with players and said that initially, encouraging conversations had not resulted in any follow-up steps.
Twenty elite athletes, 10 from the ATP and 10 from the WTA, wrote to the Grand Slams earlier this season to request a larger share of the money made to be distributed as prize money and other benefits.
It will be interesting to watch if the Grand Slams address those issues and make adjustments in 2026.
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