Max Verstappen delivers 'perfectly' F1 title chance verdict after McLaren cracks appear

Max Verstappen is now refusing to rule himself out of the F1 drivers' title fight, although he naturally recognises he needs to be "perfect" if he is to have any chance of overhauling Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

After finishing second behind Piastri in his home Dutch Grand Prix just three weeks ago, it seemed impossible that Verstappen could overhaul the championship leader as he trailed the Australian by 104 points.

Three weeks and back-to-back victories for the first time in 15 months later, four-time F1 champion Verstappen has slashed into Piastri's advantage by 35 points to cut the gap to 69. Lando Norris is also 44 points ahead of the Dutchman.

With 199 points available from the remaining seven grands prix and three sprints, the mathematics dictate that Verstappen still has a chance of clinching a fifth successive crown.

It is clearly a long shot, but from ruling it out only recently, the tone has changed in facing the same question a few weeks on.

"It's seven races to go, and it's still 69 points. It's a lot," said Verstappen, speaking to Sky Sports F1.

"Basically, everything needs to go perfectly from my side, and then I need a bit of [bad] luck from their side [McLaren] as well. So, it's still very tough."

Verstappen facing acid test

A small window of opportunity has, however, been opened as Verstappen was perfect in Azerbaijan, as was the case a fortnight previously in Italy, whilst McLaren duo Piastri and Norris struggled around the streets of Baku.

For Piastri, the weekend was a disaster as he crashed out in qualifying and the race. Norris, meanwhile, was unable to take full advantage as the Briton started and finished seventh.

Following the introduction of a new floor at Monza, Verstappen's RB21 has improved in aero grip and balance, two areas of the car previously lacking this season.

If Verstappen is to seriously threaten Piastri and Norris for the title, the next race around the high downforce Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, where he has never won, will seriously test his championship credentials.

Assessing the overall improvements of the car, Verstappen said: "It's just a combination of a lot of things that have gone better in the last few weeks. We have understood a bit more about the car.

"Of course, it's two low downforce tracks, so we have to wait and see how we're going to perform again on a high downforce track.

"For now, we're just very happy with what we're doing, and then we'll just find out now in the upcoming races as to how that will go on other kinds of layouts."