The 2025 F1 title hunt is heading to its final showdown at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and for Max Verstappen, the fight is far from over.
The Dutchman has closed the gap to just 12 points behind championship leader Lando Norris after overtaking Oscar Piastri. He suddenly finds himself having a real shot at a fifth straight world crown. It sounds wild considering where things were a few months ago, but that is why this weekend is shaping up to be very exciting.
How Max Verstappen Brought Himself Back Into the Fight?
Just a few months ago, in August, Verstappen’s season looked like it was over as he was more than 100 points behind the championship leader, Piastri, in the standings. At that moment, nobody in Verstappen’s camp was talking about title hopes, and most F1 fans simply assumed that the McLaren duo would settle the championship between themselves and Red Bull would have to wait for next year.
However, Red Bull did not panic and introduced a series of upgrades just before the Italian Grand Prix, which were primarily focused on the aerodynamic elements of the car. The RB21 received tweaks to the floor and front wing that helped Verstappen regain balance and consistency, and once he felt comfortable, the scenario quickly flipped.
The Dutchman began to resemble himself on the track again and was able to control races rather than just survive behind the leaders.
Since those upgrades, he collected five wins and three podiums, and that is the type of performance that erased a 104-point deficit. The race in Qatar was the biggest turning point, as McLaren made a strategic blunder by deciding not to pit under the early safety car, which handed Verstappen the win.
He said, “We’ve won races where maybe we shouldn’t have, like Sunday, by making the right call as a team. Of course, it’s still up to me to execute it in the best way possible but that’s also a proper team effort. The way I work with my race engineer, with GP and also the guys in the background, the whole team is very close to me. I think we’re really well integrated and we know exactly what we need to ask of each other.”
The Dutchman took the chance as soon as he saw it, raced to the finish line first, and that result helped him climb to second place in the standings, giving him a realistic shot at winning the championship. He now goes into Abu Dhabi behind Norris but ahead of Piastri, and the three-way fight is getting very intense for the first time this season.
The Conditions Verstappen Needs in Abu Dhabi To Win
Abu Dhabi has a simple task for Verstappen, which is to win the race, and Norris needs to finish fourth or lower, which would help the Red Bull driver secure his fifth world title. If Norris lands a podium, there is nothing Verstappen can do about it. Piastri is still mathematically in the hunt, but will need a win and a lot of things to go his way.
There is also a rich history here, as Verstappen has won in Abu Dhabi multiple times and enjoys the track layout, which suits his driving style with its long straights and technical corners. Verstappen has proven many times that he fits that description, and the one thing that stands out is his attitude heading into this weekend.
“I’m excited, I’m happy to go there and have a go at it,” he admitted. “I go in there with just positive energy. I try everything I can but at the same time, if I don’t win it, I still know that I had an amazing season. So, it doesn’t really matter. It takes a lot of the pressure off. I’m just out there having a good time like I had on Sunday.”
If he can win and hope for the right finishes from Norris and Piastri, this season could go down as one of the most dramatic comebacks in F1 history, and even if he fails, what he has achieved already speaks volumes about his and his team’s determination.
