Martin Brundle's worrying Lando Norris question that will decide Max Verstappen F1 fight

Lando Norris has won two of the last four races to put pressure on Max Verstappen in the F1 title race, but Martin Brundle has one key question over the Brit's ability to win a championship

Martin Brundle has pinpointed mental strength as the deciding factor in Lando Norris' push for Formula 1 glory.

With six races left in 2024, Norris is 52 points behind leader Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship standings. Despite this gap, The Brit's recent form includes two wins and a podium in his last four starts. Verstappen, on the other hand, hasn't won in his last eight races, marking his longest dry spell in the ground-effect era.

However, as a three-time F1 champion, Red Bull star Verstappen knows the rollercoaster of a title fight all too well. Plus, he is the one with the points advantage leaving the McLaren driver with all the work to do to close the gap and set up an end-of-season showdown for the crown.

Commenting on Norris' potential, Sky Sports F1 pundit Brundle said: "He's got the speed. The team have certainly got a great car. I think Lando is growing and learning and getting more and more confident. Chasing and being chased are completely different stories, aren't they, in any sport?

"So when he gets near to - if he gets near to - winning a world championship, whether it is this year or next year... how is his head? How strong is his head? Which we don't know yet. I don't think you know with anybody until that moment arrives. But it looks like he has got the raw speed anyway when he gets there."

When discussing the role of experience, reports the Express, Brundle added: "[It is] massive. I think, you know, in Austria, we saw they tripped over each other. Lando underestimated his mate Max as to how aggressive he would be in combat.

"I think he's learned from that. He's still on a slope like that [gestures upwards], I think, in terms of his learning so winning races consistently, he's just started to do that now.

"Leading from pole at the end of the first lap, he's got that sorted out. And just the way he won in Holland and the way he won in Singapore was just incredible. So all of those things will give him confidence."

Red Bull team adviser Helmut Marko has made it clear who he thinks does not have the psychological edge in the race for the title. Speaking to Motorsport Magazin, the Austrian made it clear he is backing his man to get the job done despite the pressure being applied by his McLaren rival.

"He is the best, he's the fastest and, above all, he has the mental strength to theoretically fight for the world championship more than Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. We know Norris has some mental weaknesses. I've read about some of the rituals he needs to do to perform well on race day."

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