Max Verstappen in Austin - Photo: Race Pictures

Verstappen’s warning as title fight ignites - 'We must be perfect'

00:29, 20 Oct

Updated: 00:35, 20 Oct

byOlly Darcy

Max Verstappen tempered expectations by saying he and Red Bull need to be "perfect until the end" if they are to take the drivers' championship.

"We have caught up a lot, but at the same time, the gaps are very small"

- Max Verstappen

The four-time world champion took a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix for a third win in four races, continuing his and his team's fantastic return to form.

The impressive stretch of results for the Dutchman means he now sits just 40 points off championship leader Oscar Piastri, who saw his championship lead cut after a disappointing weekend at the Circuit of The Americas.

However, despite the improved performances and the dominant wins, Verstappen still believes there is a lot that needs to be done just to give himself a fifth consecutive world title.

Max Verstappen in Austin - Photo: Race Pictures

"I think we need to be perfect until the end to have a chance," Verstappen stated after a fourth career win in Austin.

"We have caught up a lot, but at the same time, the gaps are very small. I think every weekend, you need to try and be perfect, and that's what we'll try to do till the end.

"It's been a perfect weekend for us. Today, I think what was crucial was the first stint where I could build a bit of a gap, because I think after that, it basically stabilised pretty much after the pit stop until the end."

Verstappen back in control at the front

A barren stretch for Verstappen saw him take just two wins before the summer break in 2025. However, he broke that drought by winning the Italian Grand Prix, his first win since the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Since then, wins in Baku and Austin, along with a P2 in Singapore, have seen the four-time world champion slash the gap to the leading McLaren's.

The RB21 has also become a much easier car to handle for Verstappen, and that was key in his victory in Austin.

Poll

"I think tyre management was very important today," continued the Dutchman.

"It wasn't very straightforward, because there were some laps where you had a very different feeling or balance, grip, but weirdly better or worse.

"It's one of these days where you just need to try and make no mistakes, to just drive as consistent as you can, drive around the bumps as much as possible. But yeah, for us to win again today is incredible."

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