Verstappen’s Sepang win could make him a spoiler in the 2026 F1 title fight
Archive photograph: Max Verstappen · 2024-08-25Archive photo · 2024-08-25 · Steffen Prößdorf · CC BY-SA 4.0
Max Verstappen’s first win of the season at Sepang left Kimi Antonelli seven points short of what a victory would have earned him. GPBeat looks at Lieke Jacobs’s view that Verstappen could still take points from the title contenders.
Max Verstappen’s win at Sepang left Kimi Antonelli seven points short of what a victory would have earned him. Antonelli finished second behind Verstappen.
Verstappen’s first win of the season came after a rain-delayed start, an early loss of power and an opening-lap deficit to the Mercedes cars. Lieke Jacobs argues that Verstappen may affect the title fight as a spoiler rather than a direct title rival: Red Bull’s improving form and his more consistent front-running could let him take points from the contenders.
The win earned Verstappen 25 points, taking him to 188 and level with Lando Norris; they share fourth place. Antonelli leads Verstappen by 132 points with seven races remaining. Russell’s late retirement in Malaysia also cost him points. He trails Antonelli by 84, while Lewis Hamilton is 106 points behind the leader.
Sources 02
- SOURCEVerstappen aangewezen stoorzender in slotstuk titelstrijdRacingNews365 Nederland
- SOURCEVerstappen matches Schumacher as F1 drivers vent concern - RacingNews365 ReviewRacingNews365 English
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