P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen quipped that he would have labelled someone an “idiot” had they told him post-Zandvoort that he would end up in F1 title contention in 2025.
Max Verstappen expressed disbelief at the idea of being in Formula 1 title contention in 2025, given Red Bull’s struggles earlier in the season. However, improvements to the RB21 and changes in working methods have led to a resurgence, with Verstappen securing three wins in the last four races. Despite trailing Oscar Piastri by 40 points, Verstappen acknowledges the need for Red Bull to be ‘perfect’ to challenge the McLaren duo in the remaining races. He emphasized the importance of attention to detail and avoiding mistakes to make up the points gap and stay in the title hunt. Verstappen’s recent strong performances, including wins at Monza, Baku, and the United States, have kept him in contention, with a focus on consistency and performance optimization for the upcoming rounds.
