Max Verstappen backed to defeat ‘weak minded’ McLaren duo in F1 title conclusion
Max Verstappen heads into the 2025 Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi with both history and intense rivalry on the line, and former Red Bull and Formula E driver Dan Ticktum believes the Dutchman will rise to the moment. According to Ticktum, Verstappen possesses the mental steel needed to overturn his current points deficit—something he argues McLaren title challengers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lack.
Verstappen arrives at the Yas Marina Circuit trailing championship leader Lando Norris by 12 points, a gap he must reverse to match Michael Schumacher’s iconic record of five consecutive Drivers’ Championships. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Verstappen carries significant momentum into the finale after delivering back-to-back victories in Las Vegas and Qatar, performances widely viewed as a statement of intent.
McLaren, however, is tipped to have the quickest machine on the grid this weekend. Their MCL39 has repeatedly shown superior one-lap and long-run speed on circuits similar to Abu Dhabi. That has fueled speculation that Norris holds the upper hand—at least on paper. But Ticktum, who has followed the season closely and remains connected to the motorsport world, believes Verstappen’s mentality gives him an edge that transcends raw pace.
Ticktum, once a member of both Red Bull’s and Williams’ junior driver academies, made it clear that he sees Verstappen not only as the better driver in this title fight but as an athlete with unmatched psychological resilience. Speaking to RacingNews365, he openly criticized both McLaren drivers, suggesting they struggle under pressure in ways Verstappen simply does not.
According to Ticktum, Verstappen’s confidence—and his refusal to be influenced by critics, media narratives, or paddock politics—sets him apart from every other driver on the grid. He even went as far as calling Verstappen a “kindred spirit,” praising his authenticity and his tendency to act according to his own instincts without worrying about public perception.
Ticktum also reflected on his own career, stating that he believed he had the potential to compete closely with Verstappen had his trajectory not been hindered by what he described as “political issues” surrounding his super licence years ago. Although he acknowledges Verstappen as the superior driver, he expressed confidence that he would have been closer to Max than many of the teammates or rivals Verstappen has faced.
One of Ticktum’s most controversial claims echoes comments Verstappen himself made earlier in the season: that if Max were driving the McLaren MCL39, the championship would have been settled months ago. This remark previously triggered reactions from Norris and Piastri, who dismissed the idea. But Ticktum sided strongly with Verstappen, insisting the Dutchman would have wrapped up the title “long ago” given the McLaren’s pace advantage at several rounds this season.
Ticktum’s criticism then shifted directly toward Norris and Piastri, whom he described as “relatively weak minded” in their own individual ways. He suggested that the pair, despite their exceptional driving talent, do not possess the mental durability or relentless competitive aggression that Verstappen has built his career on. As the season reaches its final and most intense moment, he believes that pressure could expose their psychological vulnerability.
The final race has become more than a sporting battle; it has evolved into an ongoing psychological duel between Verstappen and McLaren’s young stars. Recent weekends have included sharp comments, strategic jabs, and intensified mental warfare—a factor Ticktum argues will only benefit Verstappen. He believes the reigning champion thrives in emotionally charged environments, while Norris and Piastri are still learning how to maintain composure when the stakes become overwhelming.
Verstappen’s pursuit of a fifth straight title places him within touching distance of one of the sport’s most cherished milestones. Norris, fighting to secure his first world championship, faces the challenge of holding off one of the fiercest competitors Formula 1 has ever seen. For Piastri, the opportunity to influence the title battle—whether through race pace or team strategy—adds another layer of pressure.
As the grid prepares for lights out at Yas Marina, Ticktum remains unwavering in his prediction: Verstappen will find a way to prevail, regardless of the equipment deficit or the points gap. In his view, the mental toughness and raw determination that define the Dutchman could ultimately decide the championship on Sunday night.
