The Turning Point in Baku: What Max Verstappen Needs To Claim His Fifth World Title
A weekend that reshaped the championship
The 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved to be a decisive turning point in this year’s title race. Championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed out on the opening lap, bringing an end to his run of 34 consecutive points finishes. His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, could do no better than seventh.
On the other side of the paddock, Max Verstappen delivered a flawless performance: pole position, every lap led, fastest lap, and the race win. A Grand Slam that reignited his championship hopes and cut the deficit in meaningful fashion.
Standings after Baku 2025
Oscar Piastri – McLaren – 324 pts
Lando Norris – McLaren – 299 pts
Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 255 pts
George Russell – Mercedes – 212 pts
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 165 pts
Key gaps:
Piastri holds a 69-point lead over Verstappen.
Norris sits 25 points behind Piastri.
Verstappen trails Norris by 44 points.
What’s left on the table
There are still seven Grands Prix to go (from Singapore through Abu Dhabi), including three sprint weekends. That leaves 203 points available when fastest laps are included.
In reality, the title fight has narrowed to three contenders: Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen. The rest are too far adrift to mount a challenge.
The road to the title:
Near perfection required. To overturn a 69 point gap in seven races, Verstappen needs to outscore Piastri by almost 10 points per weekend. That means winning most (if not) all of the remaining races, and capitalizing in the sprints.
McLaren must stumble. Verstappen’s victories won’t be enough if the McLarens keep finishing on the podium. He needs Piastri and Norris to falter, whether through retirements, mistakes, or off-days. Another DNF for Piastri, or a dip in Norris’s consistency, would be crucial to Max’s chances.
Stop McLaren from closing it out early. A win for either Piastri or Norris in the coming rounds could effectively seal the title for Woking. If one McLaren gains a decisive edge, the team may well enforce team orders to secure the championship.
As Verstappen himself admitted after Baku:
“Seven races left and still 69 points… it’s a lot. Everything has to be perfect on my side, and I’ll need a bit of luck on theirs (McLaren).”
Is the comeback possible?
History says yes. Formula 1 has seen dramatic late surges before… Kimi Räikkönen in 2007, James Hunt in 1976.
In 2025, Verstappen has already been 104 points down at one stage. Should he go on to take the crown, it would rank among the greatest comebacks in F1 history. The momentum is with him: two straight wins for Red Bull, while McLaren endured their weakest weekend of the year in Baku.
The psychological weight now shifts to Piastri and Norris: two brilliant young drivers, but both still relatively new to the pressure of a championship run in. Verstappen, by contrast, is battle-hardened and knows exactly how to deliver when the stakes are highest.
Conclusion
Max Verstappen still has a path to a fifth consecutive world championship, but it no longer lies fully in his hands. He must be flawless, and McLaren must falter.
If there’s one thing Verstappen has shown, it’s that he never gives up. The closing stretch of 2025 promises to be a thriller: McLaren’s rising stars against the reigning champion, a title fight that could go all the way to Abu Dhabi.