Christian Horner's radio message leads theory about Max Verstappen's F1 title aspirations

Max Verstappen may not have won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but his position to win a third Formula One world title in-a-row has been strengthened, according to one theory.

It wasn't a vintage weekend at all for Verstappen, as the first 'sprint race' weekend of the season took place in Baku, in the fourth race of the year.

The reigning drivers' world champion didn't manage to get pole position in either qualifying for the race or the sprint, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc top of the timesheet for both.

That led to him being involved with an incident with Mercedes' George Russell, with the Red Bull driver incensed by the crash between the pair.

Not everyone saw it as mistake by Russell, who was just showing the kind of aggressive driving style that Verstappen made his name with.

But things got even worse for the 25-year-old in Sunday's race, as he was beaten to the chequered flag by teammate Sergio Perez, who also won the sprint, to reduce the gap between them down to six points.

After the race, Verstappen was annoyed with a safety car, which he deemed had cost him the race, calling for a review, but Sky Sports' Ted Kravitz doesn't think it's all too bad.

The F1 reporter thought that Christian Horner's radio message to his number one driver, following the race, gave a huge hint to the direction of this year's title.

"Well done Max. Checo [Perez] got a little lucky with the safety car there, but it's a long, long season and very good points today. Great team result, well done," the Red Bull team principal said at the end.

Perez and Verstappen on the podium. Image: Alamy

Speaking afterwards, Kravitz said, "I thought the Perez radio message was interesting, when he said, 'Look, guys, we are still in the fight.'

"It sounded like Perez was talking to his engineer and mechanics only, and not the rest of the team. He was saying, 'We are still in the fight, we can't have issues like we did in Melbourne and we can still get this championship'.

"But then you've got Horner on the pit wall, with what sounded like reassuring radio messages to Max, saying, 'Never mind, Checo got lucky with the safety car, but it's a long, long season'.

"That, to my ears and to anyone reasonable, sounds like Horner saying to Max, 'Look, don't worry, you're still our man for the championship'. Checo is thinking, 'Hang on, I'll fight tooth and nail to be the man to fight for the championship'."

The two drivers talk post race. Image: Alamy

Verstappen's pit stop came just before the safety car, leaving him behind his teammate, but the Mexican had been catching him before then.

Perhaps the only thing that would have stopped him getting the chance to overtake the defending champion would have been team orders.

The whole situation speaks for just how far ahead Red Bull than the rest of the pack, with Toto Wolff warning about the sport getting too 'boring,' due to the lack of overtaking in Baku.

Next up is another street race, with the Miami Grand Prix next weekend, a race type that Perez has mastered, and could even overtake his teammate in the standings.