Wolff: ‘Underdog’ Verstappen holds ‘psychological advantage’

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Toto Wolff knows an underdog when he sees one – and the Mercedes team principal believes Max Verstappen’s late-season surge has handed him something perhaps as powerful as his raw pace: a psychological edge.

As the championship race tightens heading into the final five rounds, Verstappen’s relentless charge has turned what once seemed a foregone conclusion into a full-blown thriller.

After storming to his third win in four races last weekend in Austin, the Red Bull star now sits just 40 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri – having slashed more than 60 since Monza – and 26 points behind Lando Norris in second position.

And while the math still favours Piastri, Wolff senses that momentum – and mindset – are tipping Verstappen’s way.

The Underdog advantage

“I’ve been in a similar situation with two drivers fighting for a championship, and the threat of another one catching back in the day was Max, I believe, and then it was Sebastian [Vettel] in that hunt,” Wolff reflected in Austin.

“So the underdog always has a little bit of an easier psychological advantage because of the probability.

“The odds are definitely against Max. If you look at the probability that’s very low, one DNS can change everything, and I think that affects the driving also.

“How aggressive can you actually go for an overtake? You can see with Lando today, he’s done it at the end but it was tricky at times to decide whether you keep your nose, put your nose in, or not.”

Wolff’s point is clear – with less to lose, Verstappen can race with complete freedom, while his rivals must juggle caution with ambition. And in Formula 1, that mindset can make all the difference.

A Champion Reborn

Red Bull’s late-season turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Back in July, Verstappen was languishing in ninth at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Fast-forward a few races, and the RB21 has been reborn through a string of aerodynamic upgrades — and ‘Maximum Max’ has done the rest, extracting every ounce of potential.

©RedBull

Wolff didn’t hold back in his admiration for the reigning champion’s current form. “I think Max is great but I wouldn’t be able to say whether any other driver [could],” he said.

“They’ve just turned the car out, and that guy is the most competitive at the moment, and he’s scoring the big points.

“He’s as good as he gets as a driver.”

With Verstappen hunting down McLaren’s chargers and Red Bull firing on all cylinders again, the final stretch of the 2025 season looks set for a classic showdown – one where, as Wolff suggests, the underdog’s mindset might just prove the sharpest weapon of all.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.