Former Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has backed Max Verstappen for the 2025 drivers' championship as he argued Lando Norris is "over-confident, too cocky".
The drivers' championship title comes down to what is sure to be a tense season finale in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Heading into the race, Norris leads the standings with 12 points over Verstappen in second. Norris's McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri is also still in the fight and currently sits four points behind Verstappen.
When discussing the championship, Ecclestone argued that Verstappen is the best driver he has known, while adding that Norris sometimes fails to deliver in high-pressure situations.
"I still believe Max will do it," he told Daily Mail Sport. "He deserves it. I used to say Alain Prost was the best driver of all time, doing it on his own without a radio to the pit wall telling him what to do, but I think Max is the best I have known. He stands alone.
"Lando is fine, a really good driver, but he is over-confident, too cocky, believing his own publicity, but he gets nervous at crunch moments and can’t quite deliver the way Max can when the pressure is on.
"I said from the start of the season that Max would do it in the end, and I still believe that is the case."
While McLaren has maintained a 'may the best man win' approach to managing Piastri and Norris throughout the year, Ecclestone believes the Woking outfit has been more supportive of Norris.
"McLaren have been very helpful to Lando over Oscar, supporting him over the other guy, such as changing them around in Monza after Lando had a bad pitstop, and that way of working may yet be good for them, I don’t know," he added.
"It’s not what I would have done. A bad pitstop is part of racing. You have to accept it, not engineer it.
"But you can never bet against Max. He is something special. He is one-off, and a super-nice guy, and I hope he gets the job done. He has nothing to lose, so that is also an advantage, too."
Photos from Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
Abu Dhabi GP - Thursday, in photos
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