Brundle: McLaren has 'ace card' to defeat Verstappen

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Photo: Race Pictures
F1 News
Updated: 20:29, 22 Oct 2025
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According to Martin Brundle, McLaren has an 'ace' up its sleeve against Max Verstappen in the battle for the drivers' title.
"McLaren's ace card is that it's two against one, and they are going to need to play that very well on every GP weekend until and including Abu Dhabi."
- Martin Brundle
At the United States Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing driver managed to cut the gap to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris by a considerable margin in the drivers' standings.
After winning the Sprint in which both McLarens crashed out, the Dutchman also won the race on Sunday, claiming all 33 points available to him in Austin, Texas.
Sky Sports' pundit and former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle also pointed out that Verstappen managed to close the gap down by 60 points to Piastri, winning three out of the last four Grands Prix.
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Max Verstappen celebrates winning at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures
He wrote in his column for the British broadcaster: "At that rate he will be champion but some of the tracks coming up should ensure that normal service resumes for McLaren, although there is no doubt that the Red Bull is a better all-round car now and Max is on peak form.
Brundle concluded: "McLaren's ace card is that it's two against one, and they are going to need to play that very well on every GP weekend until and including Abu Dhabi."

Brundle shares who's to blame for Sprint incident

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The Brit also reviewed the Turn 1 crash on Saturday. According to him, Piastri is "predominantly to blame" for the incident.
As a result, Verstappen is now only 40 points behind the Australian, and 22 behind Norris in the standings.

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