Parallels with last year: Is the Verstappen comeback on the cards again?

Can Max Verstappen pull off another comeback? Fans will recall that in 2025, following his home race at Zandvoort, Max Verstappen was 104 points behind the then World Championship leader, Oscar Piastri of McLaren. The Dutchman then embarked on a spectacular comeback, making up the entire deficit to Piastri and finishing eleven points ahead of him. Just two points – the number Lando Norris (also of McLaren) scored more than him that season – ultimately stood between him and his fifth consecutive world title.

Now, after finishing second at Spielberg, Verstappen is once again around 100 points behind the championship leader – 98 points, to be precise – this time to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. However, the percentage difference is different this time: it currently stands at 73 versus 171 points. Following his second-place finish at Spielberg and a truly strong performance, he was asked whether a title chase was possible once again.

Verstappen: The gap is huge

Verstappen said: “There are even more races on the calendar than last year, but the gap is very big. I think we had very good pace, but to be in contention for the title, we need to improve even further overall.”

Behind-the-scenes processes

The Red Bull Racing driver: “I think we still have too many problems – whether it’s at the start or simply with behind-the-scenes processes that you might not even know about, but which I’m aware of. I think we simply need to be a bit more versatile.”

Verstappen: “That’s not meant as a major criticism or anything. I think everyone’s aware of it, but we always want to improve; we’re striving to be the best. So we simply have to focus on all these things. And if we’re a bit, let’s say, solid – and we’ve shown that in the past – then of course it’s a different story. But hopefully it won’t take too long. We’ve still got a bit of work ahead of us.”

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