P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has shared how we will react to losing out on winning the F1 drivers’ championship if he cannot make it five in a row this season.
Max Verstappen is determined not to dwell on losing the F1 drivers’ championship if he falls short of winning it for the fifth consecutive season. Despite winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix and reducing his gap to Lando Norris to 24 points due to Norris’ disqualification alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, the Dutchman still faces a tough challenge to defend his title. With only two rounds left, including a sprint weekend in Qatar, Verstappen would need various factors to align in his favor, such as Norris encountering misfortune while also outscoring Piastri. Verstappen, who has been the dark horse in the championship battle, has already benefited from Piastri’s recent dip in form, outscoring him by 104 points over the last seven races. This has led to a 58-point swing between the two and enabled Verstappen to cut his deficit to the championship leader by 80 points since Piastri’s victory at Zandvoort. Verstappen attributed his rapid progress to a combination of circumstances, including mistakes made by Norris and Piastri after the summer break and strong performances on his part.
