Martin Brundle predicts that Max Verstappen will clinch his fifth Formula 1 World Championship this season, despite the reshuffling of the deck and McLaren heading to Melbourne as the towering favourite. According to the former Formula 1 driver, the four-time world champion has a crucial advantage over his competitors, which will make the difference.
Martin Brundle is convinced that Max Verstappen’s pure talent and experience will be the decisive factors in the battle for the world championship. The British commentator views the Dutchman as the favourite for the world title, even though it is uncertain whether the RB21 will be competitive in Melbourne.
“For me, Max starts the season as the favourite because he will clearly be the number one within Red Bull. He is incredibly fast, extremely good, and knows exactly how to win multiple championships, just like Lewis Hamilton,” Brundle tells Sky Sports News, then points to a crucial advantage of the four-time world champion. “His main rivals, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri, do not yet know how to win an F1 World Championship.”
Verstappen Shaking His Head
However, it will not be easy, as it seems after last season and the first three test days in Bahrain that Verstappen is no longer in the most dominant car. The winter test of the Milton Keynes team in Sakhir did not go smoothly. On the last test day, Verstappen was on the track all day, but he struggled to complete a full race simulation. Red Bull experimented with different setups and configurations of the front wings, but the RB21 seemed restless at times. Verstappen was visibly frustrated, shaking his head and spinning. Last week, he predicted during a media event by Viaplay at the Zandvoort circuit that McLaren would be alone at the top.
Brundle Observes Verstappen’s Challenges
Brundle also noticed the issues Verstappen was facing. “Red Bull claimed they had resolved many of last year’s problems, but we saw Max on the track, shaking his head and spinning the wheels in frustration over the car’s imbalance,” he says. “I didn’t get the impression that it was specifically related to the circuit, but the conditions during that pre-season test were quite challenging,” Brundle admits.
‘World Champion is the Rightful Winner’
Pierre Waché, Technical Director of the Austrian racing stable, is aware of the competition and shares Verstappen’s concerns. “I think it’s going to be tight,” the Frenchman tells The Race. “At this moment, it doesn’t look like we’re fast enough, but we’ll see. It seems that McLaren and Charles Leclerc are faster,” he predicts.
Nevertheless, Brundle’s confidence in Verstappen’s ability to overcome all the challenges that come his way remains unshakeable, paving the way for an intriguing battle in the 2025 Formula 1 season. “I think Max should start the season as the favorite. Whoever wins the world championship this year is undoubtedly the rightful winner,” he states.
