Max Verstappen faces "real threat" to F1 dominance - but not from Lewis Hamilton

15 November 2023 , 18:16

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Max Verstappen became a three-time world champion this year (Image: Hasan Bratic/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Formula 1 legend Ross Brawn believes McLaren can pose a "real threat" to Max Verstappen and Red Bull's dominance next season.

The former F1 managing director has been impressed by the work of McLaren's team principal Andrea Stella, who he previously worked with at Ferrari, and believes they can push on next year with two "fantastic drivers" in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

"They've clearly got a much stronger organisation now," Brawn said. "Hats off to Andrea Stella. He was one of my engineers at Ferrari. And I guess you don't see these little tiger cubs growing up to be big tigers.

"I'm really pleased how well he's doing and he seems to have galvanised the organisation. So, I think with that improvement going into next season they can be a real threat. They've got fantastic drivers as well, pushing each other very hard."

McLaren currently sit fourth in the Constructors' Championship with two races left to go this season, while Norris is fifth in the drivers' standings and Piastri is ninth. The team have recovered well after failing to earn any points in the first two races, with Norris earning six second-placed finishes and Piastri enjoying an impressive debut campaign.

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And former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has been particularly impressed by Norris this season. "It will take a while, but they have come closer," Schumacher told Sky Germany after Norris finished second at the Brazilian Grand Prix earlier this month.

"Max Verstappen also noticed [that] at the beginning and was a bit more reserved. At one point it looked close, and he didn't do that voluntarily. They're there – but Piastri still has to improve in the races.

Ross Brawn believes McLaren can pose a "real threat" to Red Bull's dominance (HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

"Lando Norris has become the number one pursuer [of Verstappen]. But he still makes too many mistakes, especially in qualifying. Norris reminds me a bit of Charles Leclerc. However, Norris does a great job in the race. Norris' problem is that he wants too much in qualifying. Then he overshoots and makes too many mistakes."

Reflecting on his season so far ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris told Velocity International: "I mean there are only two more left this season but I know it [a first race win] is coming. We've given it a good shot, I don't think anyone can fault us for what we've tried.

"We've been very close the last few weekends. I've had a lot of – too many – but a lot of second places this year. There's just one guy and one team in a way but we're getting there."

Matthew Cooper