Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has shrugged off ideas his wins in Monza and Baku have introduced him again into the 2025 System 1 title battle.
Verstappen’s Purple Bull group seems to have turned a nook because the Dutchman’s surprisingly dominant win on the Italian Grand Prix, and Verstappen adopted that up with a simple victory in Baku after taking a scientific pole place in tough observe circumstances on Saturday.
Purple Bull’s improved type, credited to an upgraded flooring paired with a change in set-up philosophy, has led McLaren group boss Andrea to declare Verstappen remains to be a title rival this 12 months to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
And as each McLaren drivers suffered a tough weekend in Azerbaijan, Verstappen has lowered his deficit to chief Piastri to 69 factors with seven race weekends remaining.
However when requested if he hopes he can nonetheless win a fifth consecutive title, Verstappen replied: “I don’t depend on hope. Nevertheless it’s seven rounds left – 69 factors is so much – so I personally don’t give it some thought.
“I simply go race by race, what I’ve been doing mainly the entire season. Simply attempting to do the perfect we are able to, attempt to rating probably the most factors that we are able to. After which after Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Verstappen was buoyed by Purple Bull’s turnaround in Monza and Baku on two low-downforce circuits the place Purple Bull wasn’t in rivalry 12 months in the past, with the Italian spherical particularly tough for the Milton Keynes-based squad.
“Monza has by no means actually been a very sturdy observe for us, so to try this was already a giant plus,” he mentioned. “Baku has been alright, however by no means wonderful — aside from perhaps ’21, ’22, I suppose. However the remainder has at all times been a bit tough. So, to have a weekend like this, it was essential.”
However Purple Bull’s greatest take a look at awaits in two weeks when F1 heads to the technical and bumpy road circuit in Singapore, which was Purple Bull’s Achilles heel final 12 months, and must also be McLaren’s favorite looking floor.
“Singapore is a totally completely different problem once more with the excessive downforce, so we’ll see what we are able to do there,” he added.
“It is tough to say in the meanwhile, however the final two race weekends have been wonderful for us.”
