McLaren expected to choose 'nuclear fallout' over Verstappen being crowned

11:26, 06 Dec

byKada Sarkozi

Martin Brundle believes McLaren would rather deal with a 'nuclear fallout' than letting Max Verstappen win the drivers' title.

"I’m pretty sure they’d rather handle the nuclear fallout of moving their cars around."

- Martin Brundle

Entering the final round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the two McLaren drivers are still in contention for the drivers' world title, after the team previously secured the constructors' title in Singapore.

Lando Norris leads in the standings by 12 points ahead of Max Verstappen and 16 points ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.

Former F1 driver Brundle explained that McLaren will do everything to prevent the Dutchman from securing his fifth title in a row.

He said on Sky Sports: "They are damned if they do, damned if they don’t in some respects. I’m pretty sure they’d rather handle the nuclear fallout of moving their cars around. It’s a team.

"What they don’t want to do is let Max Verstappen win the championship."

Zak Brown also explained during the Abu Dhabi weekend that if a driver is out of contention for the title, then team orders will be used during the race. He also added that their drivers carried out their team orders in the past as well, so he doesn't expect it to be any different on this occasion.

Brundle thinks McLaren would rather deal with a 'nuclear fallout' - Photo: Race Pictures

Brundle excited for season finale

The F1 pundit believes all three drivers would deserve to be crowned champions after this season.

He concluded: "It’s going to be great. It’s like a movie script. All to play for. Lando has less to do. We have a standard weekend, no sprint, no cap on tyres.

"It only needs a bit of contact, reliability, for any of the three of them, and it will turn on its head."

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