The champion inches closer: Will Piastri pop as Verstappen looms ever larger?

COMMENT

Max Verstappen’s second-place finish in Singapore may not have been a race victory, but it carried far more weight than just a podium.

With the chequered flag falling on a sweltering night in Marina Bay, Verstappen walked away with crucial points that have slashed the gap between himself and Oscar Piastri in the fight for the world drivers’ championship.

Piastri now leads the standings with 336 points, followed by Lando Norris on 314 and Verstappen on 273. What once looked like McLaren’s title to lose is suddenly becoming Verstappen’s golden opportunity to snatch control in the closing stages of the season.

The Dutchman’s experience is beginning to show in the second half of the campaign. While Piastri dazzled in the opening rounds, powered by McLaren’s blistering one-lap pace and near-flawless teamwork, Verstappen has steadily found his rhythm.

He has always been renowned for turning momentum when it matters most, and Singapore was yet another example of his uncanny ability to maximise damage limitation. By finishing second on one of the most physically demanding tracks on the calendar, Verstappen not only proved his endurance but also reminded the grid that he is a master at the long game.

For Piastri, the pressure is now undeniable. The young Australian has been superb in his second season, outpacing veterans and capitalising on McLaren’s strong package. But the last few rounds have shown a few cracks beneath the surface.

A handful of unforced errors – over-braking in crucial corners, small setup misjudgements, and the occasional slip in wheel-to-wheel combat – have cost him points that may prove pivotal.

These are not the kinds of mistakes McLaren were making earlier in the year, when their execution bordered on flawless. Now, with the title in sight, the intensity of a full championship battle seems to be weighing heavier on Piastri’s shoulders.

What’s more, Verstappen thrives in precisely these conditions. His career has been built on handling pressure at the sharp end of the grid. The calmness with which he has approached recent weekends contrasts starkly with the slightly frantic aura surrounding McLaren.

Even when not winning, Verstappen extracts results that keep him firmly in contention. Second place in Singapore may look ordinary on paper, but in reality it was a statement: the reigning champion knows how to fight until the very last lap of the season.

McLaren, as a team, remain a formidable force. The second straight constructors’ title only affirms that. Their pit stops have been inch-perfect, their strategy department among the most astute on the grid, and their technical upgrades consistently deliver performance gains.

But driver titles are not won by a team – they hinge on whether a driver can rise above all others. That is where Verstappen’s pedigree comes to the fore. Piastri has the car, but Verstappen has the battle scars of title fights past.

With six races and three Sprint weekends remaining, a maximum of 174 points are still on offer. To surpass Piastri, Verstappen will need near-perfect weekends: wins in every remaining race and Sprint, fastest laps, and ideally some slip-ups from McLaren’s drivers.

While the odds are steep, the Dutchman has always thrived under this kind of pressure, and the championship is far from decided.