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Come Fan with UsFriday, June 19, 2026

F1 fans still believe in Oscar Piastri’s title hopes

Oscar Piastri picked by F1 fans to secure the Drivers’ Championship, but Max Verstappen is looming large

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Qualifying
F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Qualifying
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Mark Schofield
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.

McLaren clinched their second consecutive Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship at the Singapore Grand Prix, locking up a title that felt inevitable since early in the season.

But the chase for the Drivers’ Championship remains tight, with three drivers still in the mix.

Oscar Piastri continues to lead that fight, holding a 22-point advantage over teammate Lando Norris ahead of next weekend’s United States Grand Prix. However, a driver lurking in third has propelled himself into that same fight, making what looked to be a two-way battle between McLaren teammates a three-way fight down the stretch.

That driver? None other than Max Verstappen.

With wins in two of the four races since F1 returned from the Summer Shutdown, Verstappen has pulled within 63 points of Piastri, and 41 points of Norris. With some circuits coming up that should favor the current version of the RB21, such as Las Vegas, Verstappen is not just mathematically viable, but he cannot be counted out.

And now, some F1 fans believe he might just have a shot at the title.

Earlier this week we surveyed F1 fans, asking which of the three drivers would claim the Drivers’ Championship at the end of the season. While Piastri remains the favorite, picked to win the title by 54% of voters, Verstappen secured 25% of votes, with Norris in third with 21%

F1 returns to action next week with the United States Grand Prix in Austin, and SB Nation will be on the ground all week long to cover the action. If you’re at Circuit of the Americas next week, come say hello!

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