Max Verstappen will win the drivers’ title in 2024, but it will be McLaren F1 that wins the constructors’ world championship.
That’s the confident prediction of former Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone who said Lando Norris would fail to beat the three-time reigning world champion.
"Max already has a good lead, so now he must have a bit of luck," declared the almost 94-year-old Briton. “As for the drivers’ title, it will definitely be Max.”
“But McLaren will definitely win the constructors’ championship.”
Verstappen, whose Red Bull team is currently struggling, built his lead in the standings early in the season, but Ecclestone believes Norris often faltered once he had a superior F1 run.
“McLaren has two very competent drivers and a very good car. But Norris has made a few mistakes so far that he knows he made and would have preferred not to make.”
“He’s put some order into his approach, he’s pretty good now but it’s a bit too late.”
However, he also believes Norris’ young teammate Oscar Piastri is arguably the biggest star of the future.
“This Australian, I think, is a magician. He will, for sure, be world champion in the next two years if his F1 continues to work the way it has. That’s what’s going to happen. He really stands out of all the others.”
Ecclestone was also asked to comment on the demise of Formula 1 in Germany, pointing the finger at Mercedes for not making more of an effort to keep a GP on the calendar.
“It is disappointing that Formula 1 has fallen asleep in Germany. In my time the biggest support for me probably came from Germany. Now there no longer seems to be the financial will to do what is necessary to bring back Formula 1.”
“I would have thought Mercedes would perhaps help a little more to ensure there is a race in Germany again. But I suspect it is difficult for them to make such decisions.”
Ecclestone also questions whether current F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is really serious when he says he supports a return of the German GP.
“I think he brings what the American owners want to see. More racing. So I’m not so sure.”
“There have been a lot of great new races in recent years, which is great. I’m happy about that. This is how Formula 1 has been kept alive and developed further.”
