The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a tale of two teams: McLaren’s resurgence and Red Bull’s struggle to maintain its historic dominance. While McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have emerged as the frontrunners, Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time champion, has been fighting an uphill battle to keep his title hopes alive. Despite a late-season surge, Verstappen acknowledges that a fifth consecutive championship is highly improbable. The season began with Red Bull’s lackluster performance in Australia, a stark contrast to the team’s previous dominance. Verstappen, however, has managed to stay competitive, securing seven consecutive podiums and three wins in the last six races. Yet, with three races remaining, he trails Norris by 49 points and Piastri by 25. Verstappen remains pragmatic, stating that a title win would require significant luck and a dramatic turnaround. His focus now is on maximizing his car’s potential and finishing the season strong. Meanwhile, Norris’s consistent performance suggests that Verstappen’s prediction last year—that Norris’s time would come—might soon be fulfilled. As the season nears its end, Verstappen’s legacy as one of F1’s greats remains intact, even if his reign as champion appears to be winding down.