Max Verstappen said “the chance is there” to secure a fifth Formula One world championship after his dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix helped narrow Oscar Piastri’s lead at the top of the standings.
Leaving Zandvoort in August, Verstappen was behind Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship with a seemingly unassailable 104 points. Four weekends later, the Red Bull man is only 40 points behind the championship leader thanks to three Grand Prix victories and a Sprint victory.
The United States Grand Prix weekend was a prime example of the dominant form displayed by Verstappen of late as the four-time world champion led every lap of the Sprint and Grand Prix, and he faced only a fleeting challenge in the opening laps of the former.
“It was an incredible weekend for us,” Verstappen said after winning the Grand Prix. “I knew the race wasn’t going to be super advanced.
“If you look at the whole race, the pace between me and Lando (Norris) was very close. It was just in that first stint that we made the difference, and I was able to open up a little bit of a gap, which is basically what we kept until the end.
“It wasn’t easy managing the tires during most of the stints, but we stayed in the lead and I’m incredibly proud that everyone was able to put together a weekend like this.”
Verstappen’s progression in the championship was aided by the first-lap retirement of both McLaren drivers in the Sprint, while Norris’s battle for second place with Charles Leclerc throughout the Grand Prix allowed a gap to widen in the early stages of Sunday. Piastri lacked pace throughout the weekend in Austin and could only finish fifth.
Aside from ruling out his title chances at the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen has remained relatively silent on the subject, although McLaren has always warned that it remains a significant factor.
However, after hearing his display described as “champion driving”, Verstappen was asked directly if he now thought the chance was there for a fifth consecutive title.
“Yeah, sure,” he replied. “The chance is there. We just have to try and deliver on these weekends until the end of the year, so yes, we will at least do everything we can.
“It’s exciting, and I’m just really excited until the end.”
Formula 1 now moves to Mexico City next weekend with Verstappen, Norris and Piastri set to do battle once again as the fight for the drivers’ championship heats up.
