Martin Brundle delivers F1 title fight warning after McLaren 'horror movie'

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has stated the weeks leading up to the Abu Dhabi finale have been a “horror movie” for McLaren.

The Woking-based squad suffered a double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after their underfloor planks were too worn.

Last time out in Qatar, a botched strategy call denied the team victory, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris ending the race in second and fourth respectively.

Back-to-back wins for Verstappen have aided his push for a fifth F1 title, and he now sits just 12 points behind Norris ahead of the Abu Dhabi weekend.

Reviewing a difficult few weeks for McLaren, Brundle told Sky F1: “It has been a horror movie for McLaren, with the disqualification in Las Vegas and then the tactical error in Qatar.

“And obviously Zak is saying ‘we want to make sure we don't repeat ourselves’.”

However, Brundle asserted all three title contenders would be worthy winners on Sunday, regardless of their respective blips in form.

“All the points count for the whole season,” he said. “They're all equal in value.

“If you look back at some of the spectacular victories we've seen from all three of those drivers, I believe they will all be worthy world champions.”

But with so much on the line for the final race of the year, Brundle highlighted a minor blunder could turn the whole title race upside down.

“It’s going to be great, it’s like a movie script,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens. It only needs a bit of contact, a puncture, a bit of unreliability from any of the three of them, and it'll just turn on its head.