McLaren 'ace card' over Max Verstappen highlighted in F1 title fight

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has highlighted an advantage McLaren has over Max Verstappen in the title fight.

Verstappen has significantly eaten into championship leader Oscar Piastri's title advantage across the last handful of rounds, cutting the lead from 104 points to just 40.

With five events remaining on the F1 schedule this season, Verstappen is being considered a threat for the title.

McLaren has not won at the last four races - however Brundle is expecting the upcoming tracks to suit the Woking-based squad's challenger.

“Verstappen has scored 119 of a possible 133 points in the last five races and closed down Piastri's advantage by 60 points in the last four events, now just 40 behind,” Brundle wrote in his Sky F1 column.

“At that rate he will be champion but some of the tracks coming up should ensure that normal service resumes for McLaren, although there is no doubt that the Red Bull is a better all-round car now and Max is on peak form.”

Lando Norris and Piastri have been evenly matched at the front of hte field this year, while Verstappen has had no assistance from team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

It's a scenario that will be a major benefit for McLaren, according to Brundle.

“McLaren's ace card is that it's two against one, and they are going to need to play that very well on every GP weekend until and including Abu Dhabi.”

While Verstappen has voiced his distaste for sprint race weekends, the extra points on offer could boost his chances of a title upset.

With the Brazil and Qatar weekends also due to host the alternate format, Brundle stated the schedule seems to play into Verstappen's strengths.

“Sprint weekends seem to suit Max's talent and confidence, whereby you have one practice session before the relentless competition starts with sprint qualifying, sprint race, main qualifying and, finally, the race,” Brundle said.

“There's a result all three days and, in many ways, they have a cumulative effect. It must be like dropping off the peloton in a cycle race, very hard to catch up.”