'Not a politician' Max Verstappen picked as the favorite for the title by Bernie Ecclestone

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen has been reducing the gap to championship leaders since the summer break and is now just 36 points behind Lando Norris. Amid the recent upsurge in the Dutchman's performance, former F1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone came out and picked Verstappen as the favorite for the title.

Red Bull had been overtaken in the performance index by McLaren going into the 2025 season, which led to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sprinting away for the championship battle. Verstappen was over 100 points behind Oscar Piastri going into the Dutch GP.

However, the upgrade brought by Red Bull in the latter races of the European stage put the Dutchman back in contention, and since then, Max Verstappen hasn't finished off the podium. While Lando Norris won last weekend’s race in Mexico, the four-time F1 champion is still being considered a favorite for the title by many, including Bernie Ecclestone.

F1 Grand Prix of Mexico - Source: Getty

The F1 Supremo detailed Verstappen's previous results at the Brazilian GP, revealing how it has been a happy hunting ground for the Dutchman, and that the Red Bull driver will likely win that race.

“I think Max will win and make it again! He has the special, the extraordinary. And the next race is Brazil, the weather is changeable, even with rain. Verstappen will do well there,” said Ecclestone (via Sport.de)

The former F1 Boss detailed how both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are good drivers, and that the Woking-based team has a great car, yet they're no match to Max Verstappen.

“But Verstappen is the special one, the best racer, not a politician, but a real racing driver,” added Ecclestone

In the last 6 races, Max Verstappen has won three and finished on the podium in the remaining three races.

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“It's in his hands”: Former F1 driver on Max Verstappen's way to 2025 F1 title

With four races to go, Max Verstappen needs to outscore Lando Norris by an average of nine points every race weekend to take the title. The four weekends include two Sprint weekends, and former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer came out and detailed how the Dutchman is likely to approach the scenario.

“If he wins in Brazil, I think it will be in the balance. If he can win there, the gap will be less than 30. Vegas is going to be the big opportunity where you've got Mercedes, who will be quick. They're always quick in Vegas. Ferrari is a wild card. McLaren could easily end up being sixth and seventh. That'll be the opportunity for Max to get 15 points out of the McLarens in Vegas,” said Jolyon Palmer (via F1 Nation podcast) “It's in his hands to get it down to the wire. If you're Max now with four races to go, you've got to just think, 'let's get the gap as close as it can be for Abu Dhabi', and then the pressure is on McLaren,” he added

If Verstappen wins the 2025 title, it will be the biggest gap closed by a driver to take the F1 championship.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi