Verstappen's resurgence: Does the Dutchman remain a threat to the title?

With the end of the 2025 F1 season closing in, questions have risen around, 4-time World Champion, Max Verstappen and his ability to take the Championship from Norris. 

Championship leader, Lando Norris won his 7^th race of 2025 and his 11^th race overall in Brazil, moving himself 24 points clear of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Meanwhile, the Dutchman produced a drive for the ages, stirring up much excitement towards the end of a season, that is sure to go down in history. Despite Verstappen starting from the pit lane and suffering an early-race puncture, he proved his expertise as he began his charge up the grid for a podium finish. 

Taking 3^rd place on Sunday in Brazil, Verstappen now sits just 49 points behind Norris with only three Grand Prix’s to go. Verstappen’s incredible resurgence as a title contender is proving once again that we should never underestimate a driver, especially one as great as Max Verstappen. 

This may lead to question, will history be re-written, as a somewhat similar scenario occurred in 2007 with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton? Raikkonen was 17 points behind Hamilton with three races to go but Hamilton’s retirement from the Chinese Grand Prix and 7^th place finish in Brazil, allowed Raikkonen to secure the title by a single point. 

Now in 2025 we could be face to face with a situation very much alike. The season outcome is so unpredictable that, even if Norris wins his 8^th race of the season in Las Vegas, Verstappen could still achieve the unthinkable. The 28-year-old would need to win the three remaining races and the Qatar sprint, as well as Norris scoring 34 points or fewer across all three weekends, to win his 5^th Championship title for Red Bull. Despite this achievement appearing so out of reach, history has taught us not to misjudge Max Verstappen, especially when considering his first Driver's Championship title win in 2021.

All being said, Lando Norris’ hopes to seal his first Driver’s Championship remain very high. The McLaren driver would need second place finishes in all three outstanding races, as well as the Qatar Sprint, to win his maiden crown. In considering Norris’ impressive momentum, with two consecutive race wins, he has everything behind him to take home the title.

As the tensions continue to rise, in what was already one of the most exhilarating seasons in F1 history, the question remains, who will be crowned the 2025 Driver's Champion?