Bernie Ecclestone sees Max Verstappen in the lead in the battle for the world championship title despite falling behind – He questions Norris’ mental stability and McLaren’s internal course
Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone continues to back Max Verstappen as world champion ahead of the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi. “I said before the season started that Max would do it in the end, and I still believe that. He deserves it,” Ecclestone said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“You can never bet against Max. He’s extraordinary—one of a kind,” Ecclestone said. What’s more, the former Formula 1 official even considers Verstappen “the best I’ve ever seen. I used to say that Alain Prost was the best driver of all time—one who did everything on his own, without a radio to the pit wall telling him what to do. Now I think Max stands on his own.“
That’s why Ecclestone has Verstappen on his list for the Formula 1 finale. But from his point of view, there’s even more to be said for the Red Bull driver: ”Max has nothing to lose. That’s also an advantage.” Incidentally, Verstappen himself sees it similarly.
Why Ecclestone is not betting on Norris
However, McLaren driver Lando Norris is the favorite to win the title due to his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings. But Ecclestone has a less high opinion of Norris: “Lando is okay, a really good driver, but he’s overly confident, too cocky, believes in his own hype. In the crucial moments, he gets nervous and can’t quite deliver like Max when the pressure mounts.”
Ecclestone also criticizes the McLaren team and its attitude toward its two drivers, Norris and Oscar Piastri. Ecclestone sticks to his theory that McLaren could be favoring Norris. He says: “McLaren has been very helpful to Lando—more so than to Oscar. Maybe this approach will work out well for the team in the end—I don’t know. But I wouldn’t have done it that way.”