F1 News: Martin Brundle details NEW title contender with 'world championship' claim

Martin Brundle is a Sky Sports TV pundit — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News

Brundle details NEW F1 title contender with 'world championship' claim

Brundle has named THIS F1 driver as a 2024 title contender

Sheona Mountford

Wednesday 27 March 2024 14:00 Updated: 20:12

Sky pundit Martin Brundle has suggested that there could be an additional title contender in 2024, despite Max Verstappen’s dominant start to the season.

Red Bull and Verstappen have been flawless over the past few seasons, with the Dutch driver winning 19 out of 22 races in 2023 and the opening two rounds of 2024.

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However, during the Australian Grand Prix, the Dutchman retired from the race due to an issue with his right rear brake - a first DNF since Australia 2022.

Before the issue, he was overtaken by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on lap two, who cruised to his third career victory.

Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Australian GP 2024

Can Sainz compete for a championship in 2024?

Sainz missed the Saudi Arabian GP after undergoing surgery to have his appendix removed, but bounced back strongly with a race win.

The Spanish driver finds himself without a race seat for 2025, with Ferrari opting for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton instead.

However, Sainz remains the only non-Red Bull race winner since 2022, and has been praised for his strong start to the season.

In an article for Sky Sports F1 Martin Brundle detailed Sainz's chances of fighting for the world title.

“Carlos Sainz was the hero of the day, and fans' driver of the day for the second time in his two races this season," he said.

“Even when I chatted to him on the grid just before the race, I was perturbed that he still looked fragile and moved more slowly than normal after his surgery for appendicitis.

"There was nothing slow-moving about his race pace though, he was sensational throughout.

“In his words he is "jobless" for next year, and that was one hell of an advert for his talents yet again. If he'd driven in Jeddah, it's highly likely he'd be leading the world championship now.”

Red Bull Max Verstappen Ferrari Mercedes Carlos Sainz Australian Grand Prix