Formula One’s legendary “Godfather,” Bernie Ecclestone, has weighed in on the thrilling title fight, and his predictions are sure to stir the pot! The 95-year-old F1 titan believes Max Verstappen will snatch the championship in the UAE finale, even though he’s currently 12 points behind Lando Norris.
Bernie didn’t hold back, declaring Verstappen the greatest driver he’s ever known – a title he once reserved for Alain Prost! “Max stands alone,” Ecclestone stated, praising the Dutchman’s unparalleled skill and calling him “something special.”
As for Lando Norris, the F1 patriarch acknowledged his talent but delivered a stinging critique: “Lando is fine, a really good driver, but he is over-confident, too cocky, believing his own publicity, but he gets nervous at crunch moments.” He suggests Norris can’t deliver under pressure like Max. Bernie also raised an eyebrow at McLaren’s tactics, hinting they’ve been “very helpful” to Lando over his teammate Oscar Piastri, who is also still in the running, 16 points adrift.
Despite the maths favouring Norris – who can take the title even if Max wins, provided he finishes third – the pressure is clearly getting to him. In a rare move, Norris cancelled his customary press briefing, indicating heightened anxiety ahead of the biggest race of his career.
But for Bernie, there’s no doubt. “You can never bet against Max. He is one-off… and I hope he gets the job done.” Get ready for a monumental title showdown!
