Nick Heidfeld cannot believe what people are now saying about Max Verstappen, ‘that’s an exaggeration’

Red Bull may not have the best car on the 2025 F1 grid, yet Max Verstappen is still only 22 points behind Oscar Piastri of McLaren in the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship.

Verstappen can become only the fourth driver in history to win five or more Formula 1 titles if the Red Bull ace retains his crown. The 27-year-old can also become just the second driver after Michael Schumacher to win the championship in five consecutive campaigns this term.

Yet McLaren have a car advantage over Red Bull, with the MCL39 stronger than the RB21 on low and medium-speed tracks. Red Bull’s package is strongest at high-speed, which helped Verstappen win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after he overtook Piastri on the opening lap.

Max Verstappen’s Imola overtake on Oscar Piastri being one of the best ever is an ‘exaggeration’

Verstappen caught Piastri napping to lead on Lap 1 at Imola, with the Red Bull racer catching his McLaren rival out as the Australian was too focused on defending Mercedes pilot George Russell into the Tamburello chicane. Piastri left the Dutchman clear to fly around his outside.

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But as impressive as the move was as Verstappen took 15 km/h (9.3 mph) more than Piastri into Turn 2, Nick Heidfeld cannot believe some are now claiming it was one of the best first corner overtakes ever. It is not even the most impressive aspect about Verstappen’s season.

Heidfeld told F1-Insider: “I think that’s an exaggeration. It was a superb move [and] it won him the race, but we’ve seen things like that before. World-class, no question.

“But I find it particularly interesting that he’s no longer in the superior car. Now, he’s under pressure and yet he’s not making any mistakes. Impressive. And as always, his teammates are having a hard time competing against him.”

Helmut Marko thinks Max Verstappen needs five or six Grand Prix wins for the 2025 title

Despite McLaren having a car advantage over Red Bull at most tracks, Verstappen is only 22 points shy of Piastri in the F1 drivers’ championship ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. He has also had the second-most Grand Prix wins in 2025 to Piastri’s four with Imola his second yet.

Lando Norris knocked Verstappen from the lead of the drivers’ standings for the first time in 1,029 days with the McLaren man’s victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But the Briton is still to add to his win in Melbourne to trail McLaren partner Piastri by 13 points.

Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko thinks Verstappen needs five or six wins to claim the 2025 F1 title with 17 Grands Prix still to go ahead of this week’s race in Monaco. The 27-year-old won 10 Grands Prix to earn his first title in 2021, 15 in ‘22, 19 in ‘23 and nine in ‘24.