Max Verstappen kicked off his pursuit of a fifth consecutive title with a fresh victory in Austin. The Dutchman has been making a comeback in recent weeks, and now that he is only 40 points behind World Championship leader Oscar Piastri, he stands a real chance at the world title. Former team boss Günther Steiner acknowledges that the gap is still quite significant, but simultaneously warns not to underestimate the ‘Max-factor’ of Verstappen.
Verstappen’s convincing win in Austin signifies that the Dutchman has a serious shot at the driver’s title. He was aided by the fact that Oscar Piastri – who seems to have been in a slump for some time – did not finish higher than P5. Lando Norris also gained on his teammate; thanks to his second place, he is now only fourteen points behind the Australian. According to Steiner, Verstappen’s chances of winning the title are relatively small, but the four-time world champion should never be completely ruled out.
“I believe his (Verstappen’s) chances are very slim,” said Steiner. “You can never completely write off Max, but if things continue as they are, he can’t win anymore.” If Verstappen wins all the remaining Grands Prix and Piastri – the current World Championship leader – consistently finishes second, the Australian will narrowly clinch the final victory. However, Steiner acknowledged that Verstappen can pull off surprises. “The races he has won were on fast circuits – that’s where the Max-factor really made the difference. It reminds me of Baku, where that guy just managed to do it again.”
