BAKU, Azerbaijan – The roar of Formula 1 engines often drowns out whispers, but after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a distinct, unsettling tune seems to be playing in the McLaren garage. It`s the ominous, escalating bassline of the “Jaws” theme, and the shark in question is none other than Max Verstappen.
His weekend in Baku was a masterclass: pole position, fastest lap, and a dominant victory. A perfect hat-trick that, for any other driver trailing the championship leader by 69 points with just seven races left, would seem like a footnote. But this is Max Verstappen, a driver whose sheer brilliance has warped the perceived boundaries of possibility in motorsport. His consistent, almost surgical execution has become so commonplace that the thought of him, a seemingly distant contender, suddenly becoming a tangible threat is no longer outlandish.
McLaren`s Wobble: An Opportunity Lost?
While Verstappen was meticulously collecting maximum points, McLaren endured what could only be described as a calamitous outing. Championship leader Oscar Piastri, usually a picture of consistency, seemed to find every available piece of track furniture, crashing in qualifying and then again on the opening lap of the race. A rare scoreless weekend for the Australian, a genuine surprise given his unflappable demeanor this season.
His teammate, Lando Norris, fared little better, navigating the race to a labored seventh place. What should have been a golden opportunity to capitalize on Piastri`s misfortunes became another instance where Norris, under pressure, appeared to let crucial points slip through his fingers. Adding to the team`s woes were uncharacteristically slow pit stops, a recurring issue that suggests a crack forming under the immense pressure of a title challenge.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, perhaps with a touch of strategic psychological warfare, was quick to declare Verstappen a championship contender, even when the points deficit was a more formidable 94. After Baku, he doubled down on his assessment, a testament to the palpable fear Verstappen inspires.
“Definitely, Max is in contention for the drivers` championship,” Stella stated. “We knew it, and we got confirmation today.”
The Math, The Myth, The Man
On paper, the numbers are stark: 69 points separate Verstappen from Piastri, and 44 from Norris. In a sport where a victory yields 25 points, these are substantial gaps. Yet, F1 has witnessed Verstappen`s extraordinary comebacks before. He clawed back 35 points from Piastri in just the last two races. The man has a history of turning distant dreams into dominant realities, as evidenced by his record-breaking 10-race winning streak in 2023.
Verstappen himself maintains a pragmatic, almost humble skepticism. “Seven races to go and it`s still 69 points? It`s a lot,” he noted, adding, “Basically everything needs to go perfect from my side, and then a bit of luck from there from their side I need as well, you know, so it`s still very tough.” This measured response only further underlines the ice in his veins; he doesn`t rely on bravado, but on relentless performance.
His rivals, including seasoned veterans, speak of him with a reverence that borders on awe. This “aura,” built on consistent, superlative performances even in cars perceived to be challenging, means he can never be written off. He is, to borrow a phrase, the ultimate wild card.
Pressure Points: McLaren`s Fragility Exposed?
The very fact that Verstappen is considered a legitimate threat, despite the numerical disadvantage, speaks volumes about McLaren`s perceived fragility. Their constructors` title, while almost certainly secured, came with an unexpected cost: the revelation of a team under duress. Baku felt like a crucible, and McLaren’s response was less than exemplary.
While Piastri`s errors were uncharacteristic, Norris`s performance subtly reinforced a narrative that he occasionally falters when the stakes are highest. Stella, ever the diplomat, compared Piastri’s off-weekend to similar rare events experienced by legends like Michael Schumacher, highlighting it as a learning moment. A valid point, of course; no champion is flawless. But the individual who *most often* approaches flawlessness is the very man Stella now labels a title contender: Max Verstappen.
The Predator Circles: Singapore`s Unmissable Showdown
Red Bull`s recent leap forward, largely attributed to a new floor introduced at the Italian Grand Prix, combined with Verstappen`s emphatic double victory in Monza and Baku, has placed legitimate external pressure on McLaren. It`s akin to someone turning on the iconic “Jaws” theme outside their garage, slowly but surely raising the volume. Verstappen is circling, and after McLaren`s `bloody` weekend in Baku, there`s a distinct scent of vulnerability in the water.
Crucially for Verstappen, he doesn`t contend with an intra-team battle for points. His teammate, Sergio Pérez, while capable of flashes of brilliance, isn`t a consistent threat to Verstappen`s top finishes. This allows Verstappen to maximize his points haul relentlessly, chipping away at the lead of two McLaren drivers who are still, by necessity, competing against each other.
The next race, the Singapore Grand Prix, holds a particularly interesting distinction. It`s a circuit where Verstappen has never won, a self-proclaimed “bogey track” for the Red Bull team. Sergio Pérez`s win there in 2022 was an outlier, solidifying his `King of the Streets` moniker rather than reflecting a dominant Red Bull trend. Red Bull Racing adviser Helmut Marko openly acknowledges this: “If we are competitive in Singapore, then maybe we can start dreaming. It`s not only high downforce, it`s bloody hot always there, which our car also doesn`t seem to like so much. So it will be the real benchmark where we are.”
If Red Bull and Verstappen can conquer Singapore, a circuit that has historically tested their weaknesses, then Andrea Stella`s concerns will transcend mere strategic deflection. The idea of Verstappen running the table from there until the season`s close will morph from fanciful speculation into a chillingly plausible scenario. He is simply that good, capable of becoming unbeatable very quickly when the car is beneath him.
McLaren arrived in Azerbaijan with hopes of sealing the constructors` championship early, a historic feat. They leave Baku not just without that certainty, but with a faint target etched on their backs and an ever-growing, Verstappen-shaped shadow looming large in their mirrors. The next chapter unfolds in Singapore, and it promises to be unmissable.
