Max Verstappen is convinced that he is now very much in the fight for the world championship after his victory at the US Grand Prix. Following a dominant win in Austin the Red Bull driver was adamant he could still yet take his fifth title and was enthused at the chance to do so.
Verstappen won with a flawless drive from pole to flag at the Circuit of the Americas, and in so doing narrowed the gap to the championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points. In what is now a three-way title battle Lando Norris, who took second place, is just 14 points off Piastri.
Until this weekend Verstappen has been very circumspect in assessing his chances of competing for the title, despite winning two of the previous three races. However, after the victory in Austin he acknowledged that it was now game-on.
“For sure, the chance is there,” he said. “We just need to try and deliver these kinds of weekends now till the end. So, just try whatever we can. I think it’s exciting, and I’m just very excited to the end.”
The Red Bull has proved to be increasingly competitive in recent races and indeed had the edge on the previously dominant McLaren, but Verstappen also conceded that he and the team would have to be at the top of their game to overcome the deficit in the five remaining meetings.
“I know that we need to be perfect till the end to have a chance, so that’s what we just need to focus on,” he said. “It’s super close and just attention to detail will make the difference. Trying to get the best setup on the car every weekend and then try and not make mistakes, so that’s what we’ll try to do.”
Piastri, who has seen his 104 point-lead over Verstappen more than halved in the last four meetings remained bullish that he could still close out the championship despite what is now a ferociously close fought battle.
“I’d still rather be where I am than the other two,” he said.
“I’ve been in fights that were as close or at this point even closer than what they are now. So I’ve got the evidence for myself that things can still turn out well and I still fully believe that I can win the championship.
