Max Verstappen has admitted that "everything needs to go perfectly" if he is to secure his fifth consecutive Formula 1 Drivers' Championship.
Following his dominant victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, the Red Bull driver has closed the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 69 points.
While the odds are long, the mathematical possibility of a comeback has both the paddock and the McLaren team fearing a late-season charge.
The points deficit is a massive one, but with seven Grands Prix and three Sprint weekends still to come, a maximum of 199 points is still available.
This slim chance of a turnaround has turned the title fight into a dramatic chase, with Verstappen refusing to give up on his title hopes.
The perfect storm needed for a Max Verstappen comeback
The reigning World Champion will have to be perfect from here on out and will need help from the McLaren drivers.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
A mathematical breakdown shows that if Verstappen were to win every race and every sprint remaining, he would still only win the title by 1 point, provided Piastri finishes second in every race and sprint but suffers a single race DNF (Did Not Finish).
If Verstappen were to drop just one win, Piastri would need two very poor race weekends for the Dutchman to take the crown.
The margin for error is non-existent, and the pressure is now squarely on Verstappen to be flawless.
Getty
What the title race means for McLaren
Verstappen’s recent surge has caused a palpable sense of unease in the McLaren camp.
The team has dominated the season so far, but the prospect of losing the title due to an unforced error or a mechanical failure has left them worried.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Piastri and Lando Norris are also fighting for the title, which could lead to them taking points off each other and further aiding Verstappen's cause.
Verstappen himself acknowledged the situation, stating, “It's seven races to go and it's still 69 points, it's a lot.
"Basically everything needs to go perfectly from my side, and then a bit of luck from their side I need as well, so it's still very tough.”