P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 rivals assess Max Verstappen’s chances of winning this year’s world championship.
Max Verstappen’s F1 rivals have shared their opinions on his chances of winning this year’s world championship, following his recent strong performances in Italy and Azerbaijan.
Even though Verstappen is currently behind in the standings, with 44 points to make up on second-placed Lando Norris and 69 points on championship leader Oscar Piastri, there are still seven races and three sprints remaining in the season.
Despite the points deficit, McLaren now considers Verstappen a serious contender for the title, and the Dutch driver himself has not ruled out the possibility of claiming his fifth world championship this year.
Various F1 drivers have given their assessments of Verstappen’s title chances, with responses ranging from cautious optimism to skepticism, reflecting the competitive nature of the field.
While some drivers like Esteban Ocon and George Russell believe in Verstappen’s potential to mount a comeback, others like Charles Leclerc and Isack Hadjar see the task as more challenging.
Overall, the consensus among Verstappen’s peers is that while the odds may be stacked against him, the unpredictable nature of F1 leaves room for surprises in the title race.
