Verstappen Threatens McLaren Title Bid

Max Verstappen has closed a 104-point deficit to Oscar Piastri to 40 points with three wins and two podiums in recent races, turning what looked like a McLaren-dominated fight into a tighter championship battle with five rounds remaining. Red Bull introduced upgrades in Mexico City — floor tweaks and cooling changes — and Verstappen topped FP2 there but warned of balance and low-grip issues with the RB21 during race runs. McLaren have already secured the Constructors' title and enter the run-in with Piastri leading the drivers' standings and Lando Norris 14 points back, but both drivers have struggled to match Verstappen's momentum (Piastri was 12th in FP2). McLaren's decision to pause updates has left the team more vulnerable and prompted questions about whether internal management is exposing weaknesses. Verstappen and Red Bull say they must be perfect over the five-race run-in, and the high-altitude, low-grip Mexico circuit makes this weekend particularly pivotal for the championship.