Martin Brundle’s Controversial Take: Are McLaren and Ferrari Really the Favourites for 2025?

The 2025 Formula 1 season hasn’t even begun, and the hot takes are already flying. Among them, Martin Brundle’s bold claim that McLaren and Ferrari are the outright favorites for the Constructors’ Championship has certainly raised eyebrows. But is he right? Or is this just another case of pre-season hype designed to ruffle Red Bull’s feathers?

McLaren vs. Ferrari: A Rivalry Renewed?

Last season, McLaren narrowly clinched the Constructors’ Championship by just 14 points over Ferrari, thanks to Lando Norris’s clutch victory in Abu Dhabi. Now, heading into 2025, the battle is set to be even more intense.

McLaren has retained its driver lineup of Norris and Oscar Piastri—arguably one of the most balanced pairings on the grid. Stability is a key factor in F1 success, and McLaren is banking on its consistency to stay ahead. But Ferrari’s big move—swapping out Carlos Sainz for none other than seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—has added another layer of intrigue.

Ferrari insists that Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will receive equal treatment. But let’s be honest—does anyone really believe that? When you bring in a driver of Hamilton’s stature, history suggests he’ll eventually become the focal point of the team. And if Leclerc doesn’t perform at his absolute best, there’s a real possibility Ferrari could become a one-driver team.

Red Bull’s Silent Threat: Verstappen’s Lone Wolf Mentality

It’s amusing that people are so quick to write off Red Bull. Yes, they’ve made a major driver change, replacing Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson, a relatively unproven talent with just 11 F1 races under his belt. But let’s be clear—none of that matters as long as Max Verstappen is still in the car.

Verstappen has a clear number-one status at Red Bull, something neither McLaren nor Ferrari is openly embracing with their lineups. Love him or hate him, Verstappen thrives in an environment where the team is built around him. Even if Lawson struggles to deliver consistent podiums, Verstappen alone could drag Red Bull back into contention for both titles.

But there’s a twist. Red Bull’s internal shake-ups—along with Adrian Newey’s rumored departure—could destabilize their dominance. If their car isn’t significantly ahead of the pack, Verstappen might find himself in more wheel-to-wheel battles, which is where things could get really interesting.

Mercedes’ Gamble: A One-Man Show?

Then there’s Mercedes, a team that seems to be in transition rather than contention. Brundle himself has pointed out that Mercedes will essentially be a “one-horse team” in 2025. George Russell, now entering his prime, is their only known quantity.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli is stepping into the second seat, making him the third-youngest driver in F1 history. The hype around Antonelli is immense, but is Mercedes setting him up for failure? Juan Pablo Montoya has already hinted that Antonelli’s private testing record includes “a lot” of accidents—though Mercedes denies this. The question remains: can he handle the pressure of driving for a top-tier team in his debut season?

Is Ted Kravitz Overhyping Antonelli?

While many experts are tempering expectations for Antonelli, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz has gone in the opposite direction, suggesting that the Italian has the best reaction times of anyone on the grid—even better than Verstappen. That’s a huge claim.

Reaction times are critical in F1, particularly at the start of races. If Kravitz is right, Antonelli could make an immediate impact. But let’s not forget: raw speed and racecraft are two very different things. Being quick over one lap is great, but sustaining that level over a full race distance while managing tires, fuel, and strategy is an entirely different challenge. Just ask Oscar Piastri, who faced similar struggles in his rookie season with McLaren.

The Rookies’ Rebellion: Who Will Sink or Swim?

2025 will see six rookies making their full-time debuts—the largest rookie class since 2010. It’s a major shift in F1’s recent trend of favoring experienced drivers.

Among them, Isack Hadjar stands out as an intriguing prospect. The Red Bull junior, now racing for Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), is under immense pressure. He finished second in Formula 2 last season but stalled on the grid during the feature race in Abu Dhabi, which cost him the title. That’s not the kind of mental lapse you want heading into your first F1 season.

Hadjar himself has admitted that stepping into an F1 car full-time will be a “stupidly big challenge.” And with Red Bull’s ruthless driver policy, he won’t have long to prove himself before Helmut Marko starts considering other options.

Max Verstappen’s Advice for the Newcomers

As the undisputed benchmark in modern F1, Verstappen knows what it takes to thrive. His biggest advice to rookies? Prioritize sleep.

It might sound trivial, but given the grueling nature of the F1 calendar—where drivers can face back-to-back races across vastly different time zones—fatigue is a real factor. Verstappen’s warning is simple: if you’re not recovering well, all the training in the world won’t help you perform.

So, Who’s Really the Favorite for 2025?

Brundle’s assertion that McLaren and Ferrari are the top dogs is an oversimplification. Yes, they’re strong contenders. But ruling out Red Bull—especially when Verstappen is still in peak form—is premature. Mercedes remains a wild card. If Antonelli is even half as good as the hype suggests, Russell could have the backup he needs to mount a title challenge.

The reality is that 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable seasons in years. With new rookies, a stacked midfield, and potential instability at the top, the championship could swing in multiple directions.

One thing is certain: no matter how it plays out, there will be drama, controversy, and plenty of on-track fireworks. And isn’t that exactly what we want from Formula 1?

Let the chaos begin.