The title battle will come down to Abu Dhabi, and Martin Brundle explains how Max Verstappen is looking to unsettle the two McLarens. Max Verstappen has achieved what seemed impossible just a few months ago: staying in the championship fight right up to Abu Dhabi. Lando Norris remains the favorite with a 12-point lead over the Dutchman, but the Red Bull driver may still have a trump card against McLaren.
Verstappen’s remarkable comeback
The comeback of the 1997-born driver began in Monza and coincided with a gradual decline from Oscar Piastri, who was leading the championship at the time. From a deficit of 104 points, Max Verstappen arrives in Abu Dhabi just four points behind the Australian and 12 points behind the British driver, who is now the championship leader and favorite for the title.
This resurgence was particularly aided by McLaren’s missteps, including the double disqualification in Las Vegas and a strategy error in Qatar. Martin Brundle recounted Max Verstappen’s words during the Lusail GP weekend, where the Red Bull driver appeared calm despite the high stakes.
Verstappen’s mental edge
“On the grid, Max told me he was very relaxed and that he doesn’t get nervous about anything anymore,” Martin Brundle confirmed. “After the race, he said he doesn’t care about the championship. But these are simply mental games aimed at the McLaren drivers.”
“We know how Max can become aggressive with his team when the car isn’t performing, or with other drivers and situations on track: he’s a winning machine programmed that way, and that’s because he really wants this championship. He wants it immensely. It would be one of his best titles, if not the absolute best.”
Lando Norris still the favorite
Martin Brundle believes that Norris remains the favorite, even though McLaren has placed itself in the uncomfortable position of having to watch out for Verstappen.
“Norris still has a 12-point lead, and with the best car on track, driving for the team that has dominated this championship, if everyone stays calm and brings home a standard GP in a methodical, almost boring way, he should be able to win it,” he concluded.
So Lando Norris remains the default favorite, but in a high-pressure situation, it’s in the mental game that the Red Bull driver could strike, destabilizing his rivals and gaining the upper hand.
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