Red Bull's Max Verstappen has delivered a stunning verdict on the Formula One title fight, claiming the championship would already be decided if he were behind the wheel of Lando Norris' McLaren.
The Pressure of a First Title
Speaking to the Press Association ahead of this weekend's pivotal Qatar Grand Prix, the four-time world champion suggested Norris is feeling the intense pressure of chasing his maiden championship. Verstappen has dramatically closed the gap to just 24 points heading into the final two rounds, a remarkable recovery after having trailed by 104 points earlier in the season.
"Your dream is to win a championship and that is when the pressure is on," Verstappen stated. "It was the same for me when I was fighting for my first title. You definitely feel more pressure of being in that fight and thinking 'this is my chance' and not knowing if you will get another one."
The Dutch driver believes Norris is more affected by criticism than he is, noting: "He is more affected by it when someone says something negative but every person is different. I don't care. I am like 'whatever, you can say what you want'. When you have won four world championships already, it is amazing and I shouldn't be in the fight really but I am here."
Verstappen's Bold Car Claim
When asked what would happen if he were driving the championship-leading McLaren, Verstappen responded without hesitation and with a broad smile: "We wouldn't be talking about a championship. It would already have been won, easily."
He pointed to McLaren's early constructors' championship victory in Azerbaijan back in September as evidence of the car's superior performance. Verstappen's remarkable comeback has been built on winning four of the eight races staged since the summer break, a scenario that seemed highly unlikely during Red Bull's mid-season struggles.
Horner Contact and Hamilton's Struggles
The Red Bull star also revealed he remains in close contact with former team principal Christian Horner, admitting: "Yes. Every race weekend. He will send a message about anything; how the race went and keeping up to date with life. So, we are still in very good contact, absolutely."
Reflecting on Horner's departure during Red Bull's difficult period, Verstappen explained: "The problem we had is that there was a lot of stuff that was going on. We were lost with the car and that didn't help in terms of keeping everything under control and quiet and people were leaving, too."
Verstappen also weighed in on Lewis Hamilton's challenging first season with Ferrari, which the seven-time champion recently described as a "nightmare." He suggested age is a significant factor in Hamilton's difficulties, noting: "If you don't feel secure or comfortable within the team dynamic you cannot be yourself and that has an impact."
"And age is not on your side," Verstappen added. "You are not going to become faster at that age, not necessarily slower, but definitely not faster, whereas Charles (Leclerc) is still getting better so that is also not helping him." Hamilton turns 41 in January and has two more years remaining on his Ferrari contract.
Verstappen's Future in F1
Looking ahead to his own career, the 28-year-old Dutchman reiterated that his current contract, which runs until 2028, could be his last in the sport. His future participation will depend heavily on the new regulations coming in 2026.
"It will depend on the new rules in 2026, and if they are nice and fun. If they are not fun, than I don't really see myself hanging around," Verstappen stated clearly.
Despite being within reach of a record-equalling seven titles, he remains philosophical about his legacy. "Winning seven titles is not on my mind. I know that there are three more years after this one, so it could be possible, but it is not something I need to do before I leave the sport. I can leave the sport easily tomorrow."
Verstappen concluded with a definitive statement about his eventual departure: "I have a lot of other passions; other racing categories, I want to spend more time with the family, and live off my own schedule. And in my mind I know if I close the chapter, it is closed. I don't see myself stopping and coming back. Once I stop, I really stop."
