Brandle: F1 title fight 'far from over' after McLaren's major step forward
Former F1 driver Nico Brandle says the championship battle remains open after McLaren made significant progress with car upgrades, while the calendar may shift due to the Middle East conflict.
Formula 1 analyst Nico Brandle has said the outcome of both the drivers' and constructors' championships is still far from decided, pointing to McLaren's recent breakthrough with upgrades that perform well across different types of circuits. According to Brandle, the top four contenders are drawing closer together as the season progresses, signaling that the title fight could remain tight until the very end.
Brandle also addressed the state of the season calendar amid tensions in the Middle East. He noted that 291 points are still up for grabs if all remaining races go ahead as planned. In connection with the regional conflict, the Bahrain Grand Prix will be relocated to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Brandle welcomed the decision, comparing it to the flexible approach F1 and its partners adopted during the pandemic.
McLaren closing the gap on Mercedes
Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft highlighted that after 11 races this season, McLaren now understands its power unit far better than at the start of the year. He said the team has spent the season working to close the gap to the leaders, with clear signs of progress including Lando Norris increasing his pace over race weekends. Croft noted that McLaren now has the pace to directly challenge Mercedes for the lead.
Croft also expressed confidence that the drivers' championship remains completely open, saying he does not believe Norris trails by a margin too large to overcome before the season ends.
