P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen just stopped short of ruling himself out F1 title contention after his Azerbaijan GP victory drew him closer to both McLaren drivers in the standings.
After his Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory brought him closer to the McLaren drivers in the standings, Max Verstappen refrained from ruling himself out of the Formula 1 title contention. This win in Baku saw him demonstrate commanding performance, securing pole position, fastest lap, and a lights-to-flag race triumph. Verstappen achieved back-to-back wins for the first time in 2025, benefiting from McLaren struggles as title-leader Piastri crashed out early and Norris finished seventh. Despite being 69 points behind Piastri and 44 behind Norris with seven races to go, Verstappen remained cautious about his championship chances. The Red Bull driver acknowledged the need for his team’s continued excellent form and some bad luck for McLaren to solidify his position as a title contender this year. Verstappen’s focus remains on taking each race as it comes and accumulating as many points as possible before the conclusion of the season in Abu Dhabi.
