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Max Verstappen’s dream of a fifth world title is hanging by a thread. With just four races remaining and a 36-point gap to championship leader Lando Norris, the Dutchman faces his most critical weekend of the year. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Brazil could decide everything, and he’s clear about what Verstappen needs to do: win now, or see his title hopes slip away.
The pressure builds
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Schumacher sees key weekend for Verstappen in Brazil: “It has to happen now”
After the Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen’s deficit to Norris stood at 36 points. It’s not an impossible gap, but with limited races left, the math isn’t kind. To stay in the fight, he must gain around nine points per weekend, and the sprint format in São Paulo, offering 33 points instead of the usual 25, could prove decisive.
Speaking to Sky Deutschland, Schumacher underlined the urgency. “This weekend is absolutely crucial,” he said. “It has to happen now. Max needs to close the gap, and he might need a bit of help along the way.”
The German sees Interlagos as the turning point in this year’s championship, the moment where Verstappen either reignites his campaign or watches it fade.
A revitalised Norris
Part of the reason Verstappen’s task is so daunting is the resurgence of Lando Norris. After a difficult stretch mid-season, the Brit has hit peak form again, reclaiming the consistency that once defined his rise. “Who would have thought Norris would come back like this?” Schumacher said. “People thought he was wobbling mentally after his DNF in the Netherlands. He wasn’t always consistent. But he’s turned it around. He’s driving with confidence again.”
Norris’s recent victories, particularly in Mexico, where he outpaced both Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri, have shifted the psychological balance of the championship. McLaren suddenly looks calm, united, and fast. Red Bull, meanwhile, still feels like it’s searching for rhythm.
The chance for redemption
Yet Schumacher sees Brazil as the ideal place for Verstappen to strike back. “Red Bull wasn’t fully back to top form in Mexico,” he said. “But Max was incredibly strong in the second stint on the soft tyres. For me, that’s a sign he can win in Brazil.”
Interlagos has always been kind to Verstappen. From his spectacular wet-weather drive in 2016 to his dominant victory in 2022, the track plays to his strengths, technical precision, adaptability, and a relentless approach when others fade. If there’s a circuit where he can turn the tide, this is it.
The conditions could help
Brazil’s unpredictable weather might also play into Verstappen’s hands. He has built a reputation as one of the best drivers in the rain, calm, composed, and devastatingly quick when grip vanishes. Schumacher agrees that variable conditions could be a key factor. “If it rains, I think Max will have a small advantage,” he said. “But McLaren’s car is extremely good on traction, so it won’t be easy.”
He also warned that not every circuit on the calendar suits Red Bull’s 2025 car. “Street circuits and cold conditions are more difficult for them,” Schumacher explained. “Las Vegas, for example, will be cold at night, and that’s not ideal. Singapore worked because it was hot, but Mexico was different again. Brazil is somewhere in between, and that could help.”
All or nothing
For Verstappen, there’s no room for compromise. Red Bull believes it still has a package capable of winning, but reliability and tyre management have been inconsistent. One mistake, one bad call, and the championship could be gone.
“After Brazil, we’ll know if he still has a chance,” Schumacher said. “He has to deliver now. The pressure is on him, but he’s the kind of driver who can handle that.”
Verstappen’s record supports that claim. When the stakes rise, he tends to raise his game. But with Norris and Piastri both hungry for their first title, this time the fight is as much psychological as it is mechanical.
A defining moment in a defining career
If Verstappen manages to turn this around, it would rank among his greatest triumphs,d not because of dominance, but because of defiance. “It would be one of his most impressive comebacks,” Schumacher said. “He’s already a four-time world champion, but this would show how much fight he still has.”
The Dutchman has built his legacy on control, the ability to dictate races, to impose himself on the field. But now, he’s on the back foot, chasing, calculating, and taking risks he hasn’t faced in years. That’s what makes this weekend so fascinating.
The road ahead
After Brazil, the calendar heads to Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. On paper, those tracks don’t favour Red Bull as much as Interlagos does. That makes São Paulo more than just another race, it’s the moment of truth.
If Verstappen wins, the title battle is alive again. If he falls short, McLaren could begin its final march toward glory. Either way, Brazil promises to deliver the kind of tension and emotion Formula 1 fans live for.
As Schumacher put it: “This is it. It has to happen now.”
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