Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time world champion, faced a challenging weekend at the Brazil Grand Prix.

Despite an impressive comeback from the pits to finish on the podium, Verstappen’s struggles began with a fourth-place finish in the sprint race and a surprising early exit in the initial qualifying round, Q1, due purely to pace deficiencies.

Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris dominated by winning both the sprint and the race, stretching his championship lead significantly. Following Brazil, Norris leads his teammate Oscar Piastri by 24 points and holds a commanding 49-point advantage over Verstappen with just three races left in the season.

Wolff’s Verdict and McLaren’s Internal Battle

Wolff stated firmly that the championship contest is effectively Norris’ to lose now, suggesting the gap to Verstappen is too large to overcome.

He emphasized the importance of clean racing without contact but noted that Norris’ lead is very secure unless he suffers an unexpected DNF (Did Not Finish).

Wolff also agreed with McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella that the intra-team competition between Norris and Piastri remains controlled and should not impact the title fight negatively. Stella echoed a race-by-race approach, focusing on maximizing points rather than premature assumptions about the championship outcome.

Looking Ahead to the Season’s Conclusion

With only the Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remaining, Verstappen’s path to a fifth consecutive title appears blocked.

The 2025 season has showcased McLaren’s rise and Verstappen’s rare stumble. Whether McLaren’s drivers can maintain composure and capitalize on their current momentum will decide the championship’s final chapter.

For Verstappen, the season has proven far from the dominant displays of his past four titles.