Verstappen Hopes Hamilton, Ferrari, and Mercedes Can Aid Title Hunt Against McLaren

Max Verstappen is looking to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and the Mercedes team to help him close the gap on McLaren in the F1 title race. Despite a strong run, Verstappen is currently 36 points behind Lando Norris and 35 behind Oscar Piastri with only 116 points remaining in the final four rounds of the season. He hopes increased competitiveness from Ferrari and Mercedes can split the McLaren drivers and provide him with an opportunity to secure a fifth consecutive championship.

Why it matters:

Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, faces a significant challenge in his bid for a fifth consecutive title. The resurgent McLaren team has put both Norris and Piastri ahead in the standings, creating a thrilling and unpredictable end to the season. The intervention of other top teams like Ferrari and Mercedes could be crucial in determining the outcome, as points taken from McLaren by other constructors would directly benefit Verstappen's championship aspirations.

The big picture:

Verstappen has shown remarkable recovery, closing nearly 70 points on Piastri since the Italian GP and halving his deficit to Norris. However, the current points gap is substantial with just four races remaining, making every single point critical. This season has proven far more competitive than 2023, where Verstappen dominated, indicating that this year's title fight will likely go down to the wire.

Between the lines:

Verstappen's direct comment, "By being faster than them, that would be nice," succinctly captures his need for Ferrari and Mercedes to perform strongly against McLaren. While he acknowledges the primary responsibility lies with Red Bull to optimize their own performance, he understands that external factors, specifically the performance of other top teams, could play a significant role. He also noted that while he would have considered a 36-point deficit with four races left 'easy' in 2023, this season's competitive landscape makes it a much tougher challenge.

What's next:

Verstappen remains determined, stating, "we're going to give it our all." The strategy will be to maximize every weekend's points haul and potentially rely on a bit of luck. With a pragmatic outlook, Verstappen acknowledges that he has "not much to lose," aiming for the championship while accepting that a third-place finish in the standings is the "worst case." The upcoming races will test Red Bull's ability to consistently outperform McLaren, and whether Ferrari and Mercedes can indeed become a disruptive force at the front of the grid.

• Points at Stake: A total of 116 points are available across the final four rounds.
• Current Standings: Verstappen trails Norris by 36 points and Piastri by 35 points.
• Key Rivals: Ferrari (Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc) and Mercedes are expected to be strong contenders in the remaining races.
• Verstappen's Outlook: He believes Red Bull needs to optimize everything and may require some luck to close the significant gap.