Martin Brundle: Max Verstappen knows Piastri is “more street fighter” than Norris

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports presenter Martin Brundle has claimed that Max Verstappen races Oscar Piastri differently to Lando Norris.

The McLaren drivers have had an incredibly strong start to the 2025 F1 season, winning all but one of the six races so far. Piastri currently leads the drivers’ standings with 131 points, with Norris in second with 115 points. 

Verstappen, who is fighting for his fifth consecutive championship title this year, started the Miami Grand Prix from pole position. However, after intense battles with both McLaren drivers, he ended up crossing the line in fourth place. Reflecting on the race at the Hard Rock Stadium, Brundle was asked if he felt the four-time champion raced differently with the McLaren drivers. He explained on the F1 Show, as reported by Sky Sports:

“100 per cent, unquestionably. I think he knows that there’s something a bit more street fighter about Oscar Piastri, and he saw it in Jeddah. I think Max knows he’s got a different animal when Oscar’s in his mirrors, not by much, than Lando.

“Just the positioning of the car, there’s a decisiveness about what he did. You can’t criticise Lando’s race craft because the way he passed the Mercedes, and eventually Max, was top drawer.

“But somehow, I have absolutely no doubt, and just words he says as well, that Max realises Oscar’s a different deal in wheel-to-wheel combat. There’s just something in the way… Lando’s not quite as decisive how he places the car when he’s overtaking, and he’ll learn from that. I think that’s exactly where they are but I wouldn’t say that’s going to stay like that for the rest of the season.”

Brundle also discussed who he believes is in contention for the championship title. Miami saw Piastri overtake his team-mate in number of race wins, bringing his total to six.

“He’s won four of the last six and is just looking like absolute world championship material. I think his rate of improvement has been pretty mighty, and he picks things up really quickly,” Brundle explained about Piastri.

“Towards the end of last year, I think we saw this kind of potential. Did I expect it to arrive in such style so quickly? Probably no, I didn’t.

“He’s just winning, winning, winning and he looks so confident about it and he’s so unflustered about anything and everything. He’s just got it there. I think his race craft is a touch stronger than Lando’s.”