Bernie Ecclestone has backed Max Verstappen for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship title, suggesting that McLaren are prioritising Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri. The reigning four-time world champion is only 40 points behind first place with five rounds of the season remaining.
Verstappen has registered three Grand Prix victories and two second-place finishes in the last five race weekends, while Piastri is on a three-race podiumless streak heading into the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Australian is also facing pressure from his team-mate. Norris has out-scored Piastri in each of the last four race weekends, and has closed the points deficit from 34 after his mechanical DNF at the Dutch Grand Prix to just 14 with five rounds remaining.
“Max will be world champion again,” Ecclestone told German newspaper BILD ahead of the Mexican GP. “All signs from McLaren indicate that Norris is set to win the title. That’s why he and Piastri, who is currently in second place and leading the championship, are taking points away from each other, and Max is doing it again.”
According to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, the Dutchman will enjoy a ‘psychological advantage’ over the two McLaren drivers. This, combined with his immense performances in 2025 and his title fight know-how, makes him a formidable prospect to face in a head-to-head fight.
“I’ve been in a similar situation with two drivers fighting for a championship, and the threat of another one catching back in the day was Max, I believe, and then it was Sebastian [Vettel] in that hunt,” Wolff said at the United States Grand Prix.
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“So the underdog always has a little bit of an easier psychological advantage because of the probability. The odds are definitely against Max. If you look at the probability, that’s very low. One DNS can change everything, and I think that affects the driving also.
“How aggressive can you actually go for an overtake? You can see with Lando today, he’s done it at the end, but it was tricky at times to decide whether you keep your nose, put your nose in, or not.”
While Verstappen’s position certainly comes with its advantages, the Dutchman is also in a difficult spot in many respects. With just five Grands Prix and two sprint races remaining, he must be perfect if he is to lock down a fifth successive Drivers’ Championship title, all while worrying about two equally talented rivals.