Key Verstappen title advantage highlighted as close fight predicted

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has backed Max Verstappen to prevail in the 2025 F1 drivers' title if the cars at the front of the field are similar in pace.

The upcoming season is poised to be highly competitive due to the slim margins present last year.

No adjustments have been made to the technical regulations ahead of the new campaign, meaning McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes (who all won at least three races last year) could be in the hunt for the title.

When asked who he would bet on to emerge victorious at the end of the year, Brundle told Sky F1: “Formula 1 is data-driven.

“It’s all about the next race, the next qualifying.

“What I love about live sport is you don't know what's going to happen, and that's why I'm going to go to so many races to find out!

“I don't like guessing. I like knowledge.”

McLaren sits as the only top four team that has not undergone a driver line-up change over the winter break, retaining Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for a third consecutive year.

Mercedes has lost Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari with rookie Kimi Antonelli replacing the seven-time champion, while Liam Lawson has been promoted from Racing Bulls to race alongside Max Verstappen.

Brundle has suggested the intra-team rivalries at McLaren and Ferrari could ease Verstappen's route to a fifth consecutive championship.

“We'll see if Red Bull has recovered their car - that’s the key thing,” Brundle said.

“If Red Bull have recovered their car and Verstappen is on form, he'll still be the man to beat for the title.

“Piastri could take points off Norris and Hamilton and [Charles] Leclerc could take points off each other.”