Do you think Max Verstappen still has a shot at the championship in F1 this year?

[Anonymous]

For those who haven’t been following here’s the season so far:
First half of the season the two McLaren drivers seem untouchable.
Max is the only one fighting them for pole positions and a couple of wins
Then after the summer break Red Bull upgrade their car and it’s suddenly back to being competitive.
It’s been back to back victories for Max in Italy and Baku, and he’s within 69 points of the championship leader, Oscar Piastri

If Max wins every remaining race (7 of them) and the McLaren boys have a bad performance once or twice he can close the gap and win the title

It’s realistically unlikely because if he makes a single mistake it’s all gone

But on paper there’s a chance

What do you think will happen in the last few races of this season?

[MuddyMole]

I don't care. I lost interest in F1 years ago.
It was supposed to be the world's best drivers, in the ultimate speed machines, but now the drivers are chosen not on merit, but on how much sponsorship money they can bring to the team, and car performance is limited by excessive rules, while China is busy making 308mph (496kph), 3000bhp electric hypercars (Yangwang U9 Xtreme).
Rally driving has the best drivers, touring cars has the best racing, rallycross and stadium trucks are the most chaotic...

[mysteriousNicholas]

@MuddyMole I'm giving up on the sport next year once all the team starts using those Merc engines (so saddening) - I'll miss you non-Merc engine (hey, I didn't mind the Renault engine, I had an open mind to them). Ah well ❤️‍🩹

[mysteriousNicholas]

*correction - I don't know "all" yet :apparently: most or a fair number of teams will be using Merc engines / off the shelf

[mysteriousNicholas]

@MuddyMole saddest part of F1 man - sometimes, even for me a humble, light fan - they don't even really seem to be committed and faithful - the way teams are changing all the time of drivers, the way teams are limited in Engine brands, fuel suppliers, and sometimes after a while it all feels like I'd rather instead just spend that time surfing the Net here, instead of watching zoom zoom zoom zoom zoooom 🏎️ ya feel? Maybe over time that'll sink in with declining eyeballs 👀 watching

[mysteriousNicholas]

@MuddyMole maybe I'm just a forward thinker and already there 'i moved on in early mid 2026, lol' and with 'a lol' - sigh

[MuddyMole]

@mysteriousNicholas I don't know anything about the engine situation, but the rules are so strict that everyone is driving basically the same car anyway (which I guess is the point of a formula). One thing I like about LMP1 (now called "WEC Hypercars" apparently), was that the manufacturers could experiment with different designs - Peugeot had a diesel powered hypercar, and Nissan made some weird triangular thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7N5mrxzFmg

[MrOracle]

69 points is a very tough ask. Possible, yes, but VERY unlikely. That said, at least he has proven that the problem was the car and not the driver.

You also have to remember that strategy and pure random luck always plays a role in auto racing. Cautions can come at any time and completely disrupt a plan, or allow a better one. It's not over until it's over.

[aquamint]

Math wise I’d say he does but a lot of things have to happen in order for that to even potentially happen.
will you be attending the Grand Prix in Vegas?

[dustybiker2]

Stranger things have happened. Enjoy the races.

[AI Opinion]

Max Verstappen definitely has a shot, especially given his recent back-to-back victories. If he maintains his winning streak and capitalizes on any missteps by the McLaren drivers, he could close the gap swiftly. Though it's challenging and mistakes are costly, Verstappen's exceptional skills and Red Bull's upgraded performance increase his chances. It all boils down to consistency, strategy, and a bit of luck. With every race being crucial, the closing stages of the season promise excitement and fierce competition. 🏎️🏁

[Spencer10]

Mathematically he does... but Oscar and Lando would have to start taking each other out for it to happen.

[Asker]

That’s true

Or qualify p3 p5 or something like that

[AviatorTom]

I don't think so. He's 70 points behind Piastri with 6 races left. Making up 12 points per race, every race, is practically impossible.

[mysteriousNicholas]

@AviatorTom Aviator, please, I for one know that Alpine is clearly going to win 🏆 the trophies lol 😆 I wished. Lol 😆

[mysteriousNicholas]

Lol wasn't the joke in the F1 Movie that he got overtaken? 🏎️

[mysteriousNicholas]

The woman mentions his name over the team headset at one point '... Verstappen..." 🗣️ 🎧
It's heard clear as day and I saw that movie, from recollection alone, months back now 👀

[Asker]

No he didn’t get overtaken in the F1 movie

In fact he’s the only driver portrayed as “unbeatable”

Which is crazy when you consider Lewis Hamilton co-produced the movie

[spoiler]

and he allowed himself yo crash on the final lap of a race in the climax