'It has to come from us' - Max Verstappen issues Red Bull direct title message

Max Verstappen has issued a clear message to Red Bull that if it wants to defeat McLaren to either title this season it must "come from us", rather than hoping Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris make mistakes.

Verstappen is in a title fight against the McLaren duo, and is the only non-McLaren driver to have won a race this season. The four-time world champion enters this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix 22 points adrift of Piastri after claiming his second win of the year in Imola. 

Unlike in recent campaigns, Verstappen has not been in a position where he can win every event, something he is aware of. 

He recognises that Red Bull still have improvements to make if it wants to battle the Woking-based team.

"Look, we can’t always win," Verstappen told The Telegraph. "But are we happy with the pace we have in the car right now? No. I mean, I think no one is except for McLaren. 

"And they aren’t standing still, either. So we need to improve. Our one-lap pace is OK, but they have a massive advantage when the tyres start overheating. That’s where everyone else is just… yeah, not on the same level."

Ahead of 2025, Verstappen was expected to battle Norris for the crown; however, it has developed more into being the Briton's team-mate against the Dutchman. 

Despite Norris having faltered on multiple occasions, he expects the McLaren driver to come strong. His main question, is where he will fit in to a potential intra-team papaya battle.

"Honestly, I think both of them are very good,” said Verstappen, when asked if Piastri is a bigger threat than Norris. "Lando, I think, has the pace. 

"It just hasn’t really come out yet over a [sustained] period of time. But I think it’s still going to be a tight championship for them. I don’t know where I’m going to be. 

"I’m just trying to maximise every result. At the end of the day, we can’t rely on them to make mistakes. It has to come from us."