Max Verstappen has issued a stark warning about his fading chances of securing a fourth Formula 1 title, following a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix. The Dutchman, who qualified a lowly seventh, is now feeling the pressure as McLaren’s Lando Norris inches closer in the standings, just 62 points behind with eight races left in the season.
Verstappen’s struggles at Monza are a far cry from the dominance he once enjoyed. His RB20, which started the season as a championship favorite, has become a “monster” to drive, and Verstappen isn’t holding back on expressing his concerns. The car’s performance has deteriorated drastically, leaving the reigning champion frustrated and disillusioned.
“The way the car has changed over six to eight months is bizarre. We’ve gone from a dominant car to an undrivable one,” Verstappen lamented, speaking to the Associated Press. He emphasized that despite his efforts to provide feedback, the burden now lies with the Red Bull team to make significant changes. “It’s up to the team to fix this. I don’t have a degree in engineering or aerodynamics, so I can only do so much.”
Meanwhile, Norris has been capitalizing on McLaren’s resurgence, taking pole positions at both Zandvoort and Monza. However, McLaren’s reluctance to enforce team orders and questionable strategy calls have kept Norris from closing the gap further. At Monza, Norris was overtaken by teammate Oscar Piastri at the start, and Ferrari’s strategic brilliance allowed Charles Leclerc to snatch the win with a one-stop strategy.
Verstappen, aware of the looming threat from Norris, has little optimism left. Despite his past successes at some of the upcoming tracks, he is blunt about his chances: “It doesn’t matter where we go. With how we are at the moment, we are bad everywhere.”
With his last win dating back to the Spanish Grand Prix in June, Verstappen’s grip on the championship is slipping. Unless Red Bull can turn things around quickly, the once-dominant team could find themselves dethroned, and Verstappen’s hopes of a fourth title could be dashed.
