F1 champion backs Max Verstappen for sensational title fight upset

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has backed Max Verstappen to beat the McLaren drivers to the title this year.

The season has largely been dominated by the Woking-based squad, with its drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris winning 12 out of the opening 15 rounds.

However, McLaren appears to have taken a small step back in the pecking order of late. Verstappen has won two out of the last three grands prix and has narrowed the gap to championship leader Piastri to 66 points.

With six rounds remaining, the Dutchman has been tipped by Villeneuve to make a shock surge and overcome the deficit.

“Verstappen,” Villeneuve told La Gazetta dello Sport when asked to pick his 2025 champion.

“And it will be his best world championship. 

“The two McLaren drivers are suffering too much from the pressure. They need to wake up.”

Title success for Verstappen this year would mark a new record for the sport for the largest margin overthrown, with the gap to Piastri sitting at 104 points at the start of September.

Speaking alongside Villeneuve was two-time champion Mika Hakkinen, one of McLaren's most successful drivers.

The Finn does not believe McLaren will be defeated by Verstappen and is confident either Piastri or Norris will end the year as champion.

"I have to say McLaren, of course,” Hakkinen predicted for the title fight. “The team will certainly give the drivers orders to avoid trouble. 

“They're both very good, Lando has much more experience, which counts for a lot. But he also scores fewer points. So I don't know, one of the two.”