P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen is making a late push to seal a fifth F1 title and deny McLaren double-championship success.
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle pointed out McLaren’s advantage over Max Verstappen in the championship battle, with Verstappen reducing the lead of Oscar Piastri from 104 to 40 points in recent races. Verstappen is emerging as a threat for the title with five events left in the season. Brundle anticipates McLaren’s performance to improve at upcoming tracks despite not winning in the last four races, highlighting the challenge posed by Verstappen’s top form and the superior Red Bull car. The strategic advantage of having two competitive drivers in Norris and Piastri against one in Verstappen’s team, with no support from Tsunoda, favors McLaren according to Brundle. Verstappen’s proficiency in sprint race weekends could play into his strengths, boosting his chances for a title upset as the schedule aligns favorably for him in Brazil and Qatar. Brundle emphasized how sprint races suit Max’s talent and confidence, presenting a challenging and fast-paced competition that may work in his favor as the season progresses.
