Ralf Schumacher Thrashes Max Verstappen’s 2025 Title Hopes

Ralf Schumacher reckons that Max Verstappen has already lost the chance of competing for the 2025 drivers' title amidst Red Bull's declining pace.

Ralf Schumacher Thrashes Max Verstappen’s 2025 Title Hopes

Ralf Schumacher and Max Verstappen (images via IMAGO)

Red Bull’s performance struggles have carried on to the 2025 season as well. Despite Max Verstappen‘s continuous efforts, he is unable to bridge the gap to the championship leaders in McLaren. Now, as the gap to the title lead widens to over 49 points, many people on the grid are losing hope on Verstappen’s championship chances. Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher is amongst the many who has discounted the reigning world champion to win his fifth title this year.

Max Verstappen had started the season off in a great form, especially after winning the third round in Japan. While the Dutchman kept up with impressive results, McLaren’s dominant pace allowed them to remain at the top of the table. Due to this, Verstappen fell to the third spot in the championship standings for the first time ever in the ground-effect era.

Now, as Red Bull’s performance seems to find no improvements, Ralf Schumacher thinks that the driver’s title is nothing short of a fever dream. Schumacher issues a clear statement that winning the championship for Max Verstappen is an ‘illusion’ this year.

I think the title this year is an illusion. Max can make a difference, but not always, and the car is not up to expectations, and unfortunately, neither is the team. Max cannot close this gap in the long run. Then he doesn’t stand a chance against McLaren, unless the two McLaren drivers crash into each other.

Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland

Schumacher acknowledged that Max Verstappen made the difference on the track but was unable to do so all the time. Moreover, Red Bull has not stayed true to their standards as Verstappen faces challenges in his championship ambitions. The German believes that the 27-year-old cannot bridge the gap to McLarens in the long run, effectively nullifying his title chances.

Helmut Marko issues a ‘warning’ to Max Verstappen amidst race-ban fears

Max Verstappen has accumulated over 11 penalty points out of the allowed 12 imit, after which he will be granted a one-race ban. Getting a ban at this point would take a massive toll at the Dutchman’s point tally as he would lose a lot of points in the running. Now, as Verstappen runs this massive risk, he needs to be extra careful as Helmut Marko issues a warning.

Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via Red Bull)

Helmut Marko asserted that Max Verstappen, under any circumstances, must not do any errors in the races in the upcoming weeks. The 27-year-old will lose two of the 11 points by the end of June. As such, Verstappen has already been commanded to not do anything rash on the grid by the team. Marko reckons that if the reigning world champion is granted the ban in Austria, it would be a disaster.

Now he mustn’t do anything wrong over the next two race weekends, and of course he will be told not to do anything rash. It would be a disaster if he couldn’t start in Austria. But we don’t expect that to happen.

Helmut Marko told Speedweek.

Max Verstappen is still seemingly in the mix for winning the drivers’ title as he hasn’t given up on the title just yet. The 27-year-old is ready to give it his all and help Red Bull improve their pace and their position in the constructors’ championship. However, the WCC is seemingly already out of reach for Milton Keynes as the second driver problem continues even after switching Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda.

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