Verstappen Casts Doubt on Title Chances After Mexico Setback

Max Verstappen believes overcoming McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will now be a "tough" challenge after a "struggling" drive to third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Despite securing his sixth consecutive podium, the Red Bull driver lost further ground to new championship leader Norris, who is now 36 points ahead with four rounds remaining.

Why it matters:

Max Verstappen's championship aspirations, once seemingly unassailable, are facing their sternest test yet. After a dominant period, Red Bull's recent struggles with car balance in Mexico, coupled with McLaren's resurgent performance, have shifted the momentum. Verstappen's candid assessment highlights the increasing pressure and the narrow margin for error if he is to mount a successful comeback against a highly competitive McLaren duo.

The Details:

• Mexico City GP Performance: Verstappen finished third, two places ahead of Piastri, but lost 10 points to Norris, who now leads the championship by 36 points.
• Verstappen's Post-Race Assessment: He admitted, "Everything needs to go perfect to win," and that Mexico "didn't go perfect," making the title fight "tough."
• Car Balance Issues: Red Bull struggled with car balance throughout the Mexico weekend, despite bringing a revised floor upgrade.
• Team Principal's View (Laurent Mekies): Mekies conceded that Red Bull couldn't give Verstappen a car he could push to his usual limits. He acknowledged McLaren's superior pace, stating Norris was "untouchable" and that Red Bull wouldn't have been able to beat him in Mexico.
• Strategy and Updates: Red Bull plans more minor updates in November. Mekies confirmed the team's approach won't change, focusing on maximizing performance at each race rather than championship standings, while also dedicating resources to the 2026 car.
• Tyre Wear Strength: Verstappen demonstrated strong tyre management in Mexico, completing a long final stint on soft tyres, which nearly secured him second place before a late Virtual Safety Car.

The Big Picture:

Verstappen's run of five consecutive podiums shows consistency, but the gap to Norris has widened. The championship now hinges on Red Bull's ability to quickly understand and resolve their performance inconsistencies, particularly on tracks that expose their car's weaknesses. The tight competition between Norris and Piastri could also play into Verstappen's hands, potentially splitting points away from the leading McLaren driver. The upcoming races, especially in Brazil and Qatar where Verstappen has historically performed well, will be critical.

What's next:

• Brazil's Sao Paulo Grand Prix: The next race, a Sprint weekend on November 7-9, will be a crucial test for Red Bull. Verstappen has a strong track record here, including a win from 17th last year.
• Upcoming Challenges: Following Brazil, the F1 calendar includes Las Vegas, an unknown due to cold temperatures, and Qatar, where Verstappen won in 2024.
• Red Bull's Focus: Despite the title fight, Red Bull continues to prioritize maximizing current car performance while also committing significant resources to the new 2026 regulations. Their strategy is to extract every possible performance gain, treating each race as an opportunity to fight for a win.

If Red Bull can quickly address their car's balance issues and Verstappen can capitalize on his favored tracks, the championship battle remains alive, even if the odds are now stacked against him.