Verstappen given SHOCK blow in 2025 F1 title race

While the 2025 F1 world championship may not have started, reigning champion Max Verstappen has already been handed a major blow.

Verstappen, 27, appeared set to steamroll his opposition in 2024 after a flying start to the year in which he began the year heavy odds on favourite.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen and Horner feud details emerge as major COMEBACK lined up

READ MORE: F1 team confirm shock RETURN

He responded with a whopping seven victories in the opening 10 races of the campaign to take a commanding lead over McLaren ace Lando Norris.

Red Bull’s performance then dipped enough in the second half of the season to allow McLaren to close the gap, leading to a tense finale.

However, Verstappen’s masterful win at Sao Paulo, coupled with a disastrous race for Norris, allowed the Dutch dynamo to fittingly seal his fourth world crown in Las Vegas.

To keep on track of the ever-growing F1 race calendar, click here to shop the official calendar featuring GP weekend reminders.

Verstappen named second favourite for 2025

McLaren’s rise in 2024 means there will be no repeat of Verstappen’s short odds in 2025.

Betfair have priced the four-time champ at 5/2 behind title favourite Lando Norris, with the Brit installed at 9/4.

“The 2024 F1 season was the most unpredictable in recent times and more of the same is expected in 2025, with drivers from three different teams topping the list of favourites for the upcoming season,” Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom explained.

“Having pushed Max Verstappen close in 2024, Lando Norris is the favourite to win the title at 9/4.”

New Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is 11/2 behind teammate Charles Leclerc on 4/1, while Oscar Piastri and British star George Russell are 8/1 and 11/1 respectively.

2025 F1 drivers' title odds:

Lando Norris 9/4
Max Verstappen 5/2
Charles Leclerc 4/1
Lewis Hamilton 11/2
Oscar Piastri 8/1
George Russell 11/1
Liam Lawson 35/1
Kimi Antonelli 55/1
Yuki Tsunoda 70/1
Fernando Alonso 80/1
Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz 175/1
Alex Albon, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, Esteban Ocon 325/1
Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, Jack Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto 500/1.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Awkward silence at Bahrain Grand Prix as F1 make Max Verstappen blunder

• Today 14:00

Christian Horner congratulates Max Verstappen and Red Bull after his RBPT project achieves first F1 win

• 48 minutes ago

F1 Race Today: Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia start times, schedule, TV channel and FREE live stream

• Yesterday 22:29

F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton produces stunning comeback after Bahrain Grand Prix chaos in Malaysia

• Today 12:27

Amended F1 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix starting grid with all late penalties in Sepang applied by the FIA

• Today 08:22

Max Verstappen delivers brutal putdown to Red Bull team-mate at Bahrain Grand Prix

• Yesterday 18:55