P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has closed the gap on the McLaren duo with back-to-back wins.
Max Verstappen has not ruled out the possibility of winning a fifth world title this year after closing the gap to the McLaren pair in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The four-time world champion dominated the race in Baku, claiming his fourth victory of the season as championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed out and Lando Norris finished seventh. Verstappen is now 69 points behind Piastri and 44 adrift of Norris with seven races remaining. Despite initially writing off his chances, back-to-back victories in Italy and Azerbaijan have given Verstappen renewed hope. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is also taking a race-by-race approach, emphasizing the team’s focus on each event individually. McLaren is wary of Verstappen as a real threat in the 2025 F1 title battle, with their boss Andrea Stella affirming Red Bull’s potential to continue their strong performance. Stella confidently stated that Red Bull is a serious contender for race wins and the drivers’ championship, firmly believing in Verstappen’s chances.
