P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has responded to Helmut Marko’s latest remarks about the Dutchman still being in the F1 drivers’ title fight this season.
Max Verstappen continues to maintain his belief that winning a fifth consecutive F1 drivers’ championship this season is beyond reach, despite Helmut Marko’s unwavering optimism. The Red Bull advisor remains hopeful that Verstappen could match Michael Schumacher’s five-title streak with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004, a sentiment that Verstappen does not share. Despite his victory in the sprint at Spa-Francorchamps, Verstappen currently trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 68 points and his teammate Lando Norris by 59. The Dutch driver faces a challenging task at the Belgian Grand Prix as he starts from fourth, with both McLarens on the front row and the RB21 proving difficult to handle consistently. Verstappen has acknowledged the impossibility of clinching the championship, even with 324 points remaining, reiterating his realism about his performance compared to his competitors and firmly shutting down any notion of a title fight.
