Is the 2021 F1 title now Max Verstappen’s to lose?

A first F1 world championship win now looks closer than ever for the Red Bull driver, who has extended his advantage over Lewis Hamilton to 19 points. 

There are still a total of 107 points up for grabs but given the crushing nature of his win in Mexico - his ninth in 18 races so far this season - it is becoming hard to look beyond Verstappen for this year’s world title. 

Verstappen will have an opportunity to further strengthen his title bid in Brazil this weekend, another high altitude venue he won at on F1’s last visit to the country in 2019. 

There will also be an additional three points on offer for F1’s third and final sprint event at Interlagos. Verstappen has scored the most points from the experimental format so far, claiming a near-perfect five out of six. 

”It's of course looking good," Verstappen said. “But also it can turn around real quickly.

“I don't believe in momentum,” he added. “So, every single race we have to try and nail the details. And, you know, things can go wrong very quickly, or can go right.

"So, it's going to be really tight and exciting to the end. This has always been a really good track for us. I expect Brazil not to be like it was today."

Verstappen may be keen to downplay his chances but in reality, it looks like time is running out for Hamilton to claim a record-breaking eighth world title. 

After winning three of the opening four races of the season, Hamilton has gone on to take just two further victories across the next 14 races. 

Despite maintaining an extremely high level of performance, Hamilton suffered back-to-back defeats to Verstappen in Austin and Mexico, where Red Bull held the upper hand. 

And the seven-time world champion is staying realistic about his world championship prospects. 

"There are still four races [to go]," Hamilton said. “19 points is a lot of points. But he's had a lot of wins this year. 

“I think today with their superior speed, if they were to carry that into the next ones then we will be in trouble.” 

Hamilton desperately needs to strike back in Brazil, or he will find himself facing a near-impossible task without some kind of misfortune affecting his main rival. 

“Naturally I feel we need to be winning every race, because we need those extra points, not to lose those points, to try and regain,” he said. 

“That was the goal going into the last race and the race before that and before that and here this weekend.

“But they’re just too quick. So we’re giving it absolutely everything we’ve got but unfortunately it’s not enough at the moment to compete with them.”

He may claim not to believe in momentum but the current form book bodes well for the championship leader, with Verstappen finishing either first or second every race barring the Italian Grand Prix - the scene of his last crash with Hamilton - since the summer break. 

While the pendulum of performance has swung back and forth between Mercedes and Red Bull at certain races, it has been Red Bull who have more often than not enjoyed the more competitive package at most events. 

That was certainly the case in Mexico as Verstappen put 16s between himself and Hamilton with apparent ease during his romp to the flag.

Despite conceding the win was never really on the cards for Mercedes in Mexico, team boss Toto Wolff insists it is all to play for in the world championship. 

"I am a pretty realistic person," Wolff said. “But I love motor racing because anything can happen. None of us is ever going to leave the circuit with the mentality that it is getting away from us.

"There are four races to go, four wins to take and four DNFS to [potentially] suffer. We have to continue fighting. We have a great team. The car was exceptionally good in Turkey and I think we have it all to win.

"When you look at the mathematical probability, I would rather be 19 points ahead than behind but it is what it is.”

Verstappen’s lead is the biggest advantage either driver has held since the British Grand Prix. 

And at the rate he is going, there is a possibility the championship could be wrapped up by the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on December 5. 

Finishing ahead of Hamilton at the next two races will ensure Verstappen can seal the F1 championship ‘match point’ in Jeddah. 

Without bad luck intervening and considering his imperious form, Verstappen appears unstoppable.