Final Sprint: Verstappen Goes All-In for a Fifth Straight Title in Qatar
28 November 2025
Verstappen Keeps the Pressure Ahead of Qatar
Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team say they are leaving nothing on the table this week at the Qatar Grand Prix as he pursues a fifth consecutive drivers' title, following a closing gap in the previous round.
The Dutch driver arrives at the penultimate round trailing Lando Norris by 24 points, thanks to his Las Vegas victory and the disqualification of McLaren's drivers.
With only two main races left, plus a sprint, 58 points remain on the table, and Verstappen remains the most consistent performer in the season's second half.
Climbing Back in the Title Race
Verstappen spoke about his chances on the track he won 12 months ago, saying he is ready and we will see what happens, according to Formula 1's official site.
He added that he feels as close as last week. Things are closer now. Of course he wishes it were closer still, but they will give everything, go all out, and hope the racing stays exciting to the end.
Verstappen had indicated after the Hungarian Grand Prix in August that he did not expect him or Red Bull to win any more races this season after finishing ninth.
Since then the four-time world champion has surged, winning four of eight races and standing on the podium in the other four, turning a 104-point gap to leader Oscar Piastri into a tie at 366 points.
Verstappen explained what happened, saying he did not expect this, but here we are. They delivered a very strong end to the season, and he is happy with that.
He also noted that they benefited from some outcomes beyond their control—results, incidents, disqualifications—and that should not be forgotten, but he is proud of what they have achieved.
He concluded that, while he would have preferred a better start to the season, that cannot be changed now. They will focus only on the last two races and do their best.
Punchline: If Verstappen's strategy were a joke, it would be a punchy one-liner: speed is the best disguise for mistakes, so far so good.
Punchline: In the race of life, he always takes first; the rest are just lap times.
