F1 Title Hope Fades for Verstappen: “We Have to Be Realistic”
Max Verstappen has conceded that his 2025 Formula 1 title hopes are effectively over after a challenging São Paulo Grand Prix weekend. In an interview quoted by GrandPrix247, the Red Bull Racing driver admitted that the team “hasn’t been good enough over the whole season,” reflecting on a campaign marked by inconsistency and technical issues.
Starting from the pit lane due to power unit and floor changes, Verstappen’s race in São Paulo was eventful. He recovered from a puncture to finish third, but the result did little to improve his championship standing. McLaren’s Lando Norris extended his lead to 24 points over teammate Oscar Piastri, with Verstappen now 49 points adrift.
Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull’s struggles began early in the season and compounded as rivals gained momentum. “We lost too many points in the beginning and middle of the season,” he said, stressing that while the team’s drive to improve remains strong, “we have to be realistic” about their championship chances.
Despite the bleak outlook, the Dutchman remains determined to end the year on a high. “We’ll still try everything we can to win races,” he added. The next opportunity comes at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 23, where Red Bull hopes to regain some form and finish the season with momentum intact.
Editor’s View:
When Verstappen talks about being “realistic,” it’s more than a personal admission; it’s a technical one. The São Paulo weekend once again exposed how tyre management can make or break even the most dominant teams. Red Bull’s difficulties with rear-tyre grip and wear reflect how the balance between car setup and compound performance defines the modern race.
For the tyre industry, this underscores how small shifts in compound behaviour can tilt the competitive scale. Consistency in degradation and adaptability across race conditions are the invisible foundations of every championship bid. Verstappen may have lost the title, but the lesson is clear: the road and the rubber, remember everything.
