Max Verstappen has declared his 2025 World Championship challenge effectively over following a disastrous Saturday at the São Paulo Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver was knocked out in Q1 (16th) for Sunday’s main race after finishing fourth in the sprint.
His rival, Lando Norris (McLaren), won the sprint and secured pole position for the Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 39 points with just four races remaining.
“I can forget about that. Yes, for sure,” a dejected Verstappen stated when asked about his title chances.
Verstappen’s shocking performance comes after a run of form that saw him slash the championship advantage by 64 points.
Now, both he and Red Bull are baffled by the car’s sudden lack of grip, admitting they “don’t really understand why it’s going that way,” despite changing the car’s floor in an attempt to find a solution.
