Max Verstappen’s Extraordinary Masterclass Performance at Baku Grand Prix

Max Verstappen Just Showed Everyone Why He’s Still the Man to Beat

Max Verstappen dominated in Baku last Sunday, grabbing his second straight win with a performance that left team bosses in awe.

“Well, it’s the phrase, the cream rises to the top,” said Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley about the Dutchman’s performance.

Starting from pole position, Verstappen controlled the race from start to finish, showing why he’s still considered the benchmark in Formula 1 despite Red Bull’s recent struggles.

“I watched his onboard for qualifying yesterday, he never looked like he was going to hit the wall,” Wheatley continued. “He’s just extraordinary. He knows how to get the most out of that car.”

The win comes at a crucial time for Verstappen, whose championship defense had hit some bumps earlier in the season.

“Maybe it’s two circuits that really suit his car,” Wheatley added, acknowledging that track characteristics might be playing to Red Bull’s strengths.

Wheatley knows Verstappen’s talents better than most, having previously worked directly with him as Red Bull Racing’s sporting director.

“I’ve been constantly enjoying watching him race for the last…, I don’t know, since 2014 or something. And today was, well, this weekend’s another example of that. It was a masterclass,” the Briton concluded.

## Championship Comeback on the Cards?

With this victory, Verstappen now sits 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri in the standings.

That’s still a big gap with limited races remaining, but nobody’s counting him out yet.

Former technical director Gary Anderson believes Verstappen could still mount a serious challenge for the 2025 title.

“Other tracks might not suit the RB21, but they will have learned a lot about a setup that suits his driving style and I would not be surprised if he is in contention,” Anderson explained.

What makes Verstappen so dangerous is his ability to capitalize on any opportunity that comes his way.

“Give him even half a chance and he seems to take it. McLaren simply cannot afford to keep leaking points to him if they want a first drivers’ title since 2008,” Anderson warned.

The championship battle is heating up, and with Verstappen finding form at the perfect time, McLaren and Piastri will need to be looking nervously over their shoulders.