Martin Brundle, renowned Formula 1 commentator and former driver, has made a bold claim ahead of the 2025 F1 season: Max Verstappen remains Red Bull’s singular hope in the championship battle, despite the addition of Liam Lawson to the team. While Milton Keynes has reshuffled its line-up for the new season, Brundle believes the Dutchman will once again carry the weight of the team’s title ambitions.
Red Bull’s “one-horse race” strategy
Speaking candidly, Brundle dismissed any notion of a dual-driver title challenge from Red Bull, labeling the team a “one-horse race” for Verstappen. This comes despite Red Bull’s decision to replace Sergio Pérez with rising star Liam Lawson, signaling a push for a more competitive dynamic.
“Max and Red Bull, that’s a one-horse race,” Brundle stated. “Liam Lawson might bring new energy, but let’s be real—Verstappen is the undisputed leader and the only one realistically in the title hunt.”
Brundle’s comments reflect a harsh reality for Red Bull: while Verstappen has proven to be a dominant force, the team’s second seat has consistently played a supporting role in recent years, failing to produce a genuine challenger alongside the reigning champion.
The Verstappen factor: Red Bull’s key to the 2025 crown
With four consecutive titles under his belt, Verstappen enters the 2025 season as the man to beat. Brundle emphasized that Red Bull’s fortunes rest heavily on whether the team can deliver a car capable of matching their rivals.
“Honestly, we’ll see if Red Bull have recovered their car,” Brundle noted, referencing the team’s struggles during parts of the 2024 season. “If Red Bull have managed to develop a fast car and Verstappen is on form, he’s still the man to beat.”
McLaren and Ferrari: The multi-driver challenge
While Verstappen is likely to enjoy undivided support within Red Bull, Brundle pointed to McLaren and Ferrari as teams that could face the opposite dilemma—two competitive drivers taking points off each other.
“McLaren have two drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who could fight for wins and potentially the title,” Brundle explained. “Ferrari could be in a similar position with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.”
This intra-team competition, Brundle suggests, could benefit Verstappen, allowing him to capitalize on any points lost by his rivals battling among themselves.
Mercedes’ wild card: Antonelli’s steep learning curve
Brundle also touched on Mercedes’ situation, where young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli makes his highly anticipated debut alongside George Russell. While Antonelli’s potential is undeniable, Brundle warned that his inexperience could make Mercedes a “one-horse race” akin to Red Bull.
“Antonelli has a lot to learn. So, Mercedes could also end up relying heavily on Russell to mount a serious title challenge,” Brundle added.
A pivotal season for Red Bull and Verstappen
As the 2025 season approaches, Brundle’s analysis underscores the pressure on Red Bull to deliver a championship-caliber car. With Verstappen expected to be the team’s primary title contender, the stakes are high for Milton Keynes. Any misstep could open the door for rivals like McLaren and Ferrari to seize the advantage.
For Verstappen, the mission is clear: secure a fifth world championship and further cement his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats. However, with fierce competition from Norris, Hamilton, and Russell, the path to glory will be anything but easy.