Brundle Casts Doubt on Verstappen's F1 2025 Title Hopes, Backs McLaren Duo

Max Verstappen faces a significant challenge in his pursuit of the F1 2025 Drivers' Championship, with motorsport pundit Martin Brundle suggesting that one of the McLaren drivers is more likely to claim the crown. Brundle's comments come after a season where Verstappen has mounted a remarkable comeback, yet still trails McLaren's Lando Norris.

Why it matters:

Martin Brundle's assessment highlights the intense three-way battle developing at the top of the Drivers' Championship. While Verstappen has been on an impressive run, the sustained performance of McLaren, particularly Lando Norris's recent dominance in Mexico, presents a formidable hurdle for the reigning champion's bid for a fifth consecutive title.

The Details:

• Verstappen's Comeback: After a mid-season slump for Red Bull, Verstappen has clawed his way back into contention, winning three of the last six Grands Prix and securing podium finishes in all of them. He is currently 36 points behind Lando Norris.
• Norris's Surge: Lando Norris delivered a strong performance in Mexico, taking pole position and dominating the Grand Prix. This victory propelled him to the top of the Drivers' Championship, just one point ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.
• Brundle's Verdict: Brundle believes Verstappen "has a lot to do" to win the title, attributing this to McLaren's perceived speed advantage in at least two of the remaining four races. He also notes Verstappen's lack of a "rear gunner" to challenge the McLarens, while other teams like Ferrari and Mercedes occasionally snatch crucial points.
• Two Against One: Brundle emphasizes the numerical advantage McLaren holds with both Norris and Piastri in strong contention, making it a "two against one" scenario against Verstappen.
• Verstappen's Own Doubts: Post-Mexico, Verstappen acknowledged the difficulty, stating, "everything needs to go perfect to win. And this weekend didn't go perfect. So that's your answer." He admitted to losing points to Norris and highlighted the need to understand why Red Bull isn't consistently quick in all scenarios.

What's next:

Brundle predicts the title will be decided between the two McLaren drivers, unless they make significant errors. He expects McLaren to be particularly strong in upcoming races like Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Verstappen, while acknowledging the challenge, will be looking for flawless weekends to close the gap. The remaining four Grands Prix and two Sprint races promise a thrilling conclusion to the F1 2025 season.