P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen is hunting McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the F1 title fight, but even the Dutchman cannot afford to make a mistake.
Max Verstappen acknowledges that “bad luck” poses the biggest threat to his bid for a fifth consecutive drivers’ title.
Despite initially trailing Oscar Piastri by 104 points after the Dutch GP, Verstappen catapulted back into contention following the introduction of a new Red Bull floor at Monza.
Since receiving the upgrade, Verstappen clinched victory in three out of four races and maintained a flawless record against McLarens in both qualifying and races.
Recent incidents involving McLaren collisions, including the US GP Sprint, have further favored Verstappen’s resurgence in the championship battle.
Although Verstappen now trails by just 40 points, he remains wary of a single misfortune that could halt his title aspirations.
Verstappen stressed on The Inside Track podcast that unpredictable elements, ranging from crashes to mundane incidents like slipping in the shower, could potentially change the course of the championship, prompting him to abstain from dwelling on worst-case scenarios and instead focus on delivering strong performances.
