Max Verstappen Unleashes on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri: “I’d Have Won the Title Easily”
Max Verstappen, a driver not exactly known for holding his tongue, has decided to stir the pot just as the Formula 1 season reaches its boiling point. With the championship fight tighter than a hairpin turn at Monaco, Verstappen has thrown some serious shade at his McLaren rivals, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. His message? If he were in their car, this whole title discussion would be ancient history.
In what can only be described as a masterclass in psychological warfare, Verstappen didn’t just suggest he’d be winning; he claimed he’d have already lapped the field, popped the champagne, and be halfway through his winter holiday.
Verstappen Weighs in on the Championship Race
With only two races left on the calendar and a mere 24 points separating him from championship leader Lando Norris, Verstappen is in full attack mode, both on and off the track. When asked by PA what he thought about the championship battle, he didn’t hesitate to deliver a verbal gut punch.
“We wouldn’t be talking about a championship,” Verstappen stated, oozing his trademark confidence. “It would already have been won, easily.” Ouch. Just in case the point wasn’t sharp enough, he twisted the knife a little deeper by referencing McLaren’s early constructors’ championship win: “I mean they won the constructors’ championship so early that yeah… you can fill it in yourself.”
It’s the kind of statement that’s pure, uncut Verstappen. Cocky? Absolutely. But is he wrong? Considering his relentless form in the second half of the season, where he’s practically lived on the podium, you can’t completely dismiss his bravado. While Red Bull seemed lost at sea earlier in the year, a crucial Monza upgrade has turned Verstappen’s car into a rocket ship, allowing him to claw his way back into a title fight that once looked impossible. Meanwhile, Norris and Piastri have had their share of stumbles, from reliability gremlins to costly driver errors, leaving the door wide open for the Dutchman.
Verstappen Knows the Pressure of a First Title
Verstappen also took a moment to play armchair psychologist, reflecting on the immense pressure of chasing a first-ever F1 championship—a situation he knows all too well from his nail-biting 2021 showdown with Lewis Hamilton. He suggested that both Norris and Piastri are likely feeling the heat, even if they’re putting on a brave face.
“Your dream is to win a championship and that is when the pressure is on,” he explained. “You definitely feel more pressure… thinking ‘this is my chance’ and not knowing if you will get another one.”
He seems to believe that this desperation can lead to cracks in the armor. “People can hide a lot. And I would if I was in his [Norris’] position,” he admitted, before adding that the mental game is a different beast for everyone. While some drivers might be rattled by criticism, Verstappen claims he’s immune. “I don’t care. I am like ‘whatever, you can say what you want’.”
He signed off with a final flex, a reminder to everyone that he’s playing with house money. “When you have won four world championships already, it is amazing and I shouldn’t be in the fight really, but I am here.” It’s a classic power move, simultaneously downplaying his own pressure while piling it onto his rivals.
As the F1 circus heads to Qatar, all eyes are on Norris, who has a chance to clinch the title if he outscores his rivals by just two points. But you can bet every single one of Verstappen’s pointed words will be echoing in the McLaren garage. He’s not just trying to win the race; he’s trying to win the war before the lights even go out.
