Lando Norris told what he needs to do in ominous 2025 prediction for Max Verstappen

Mark Blundell predicts Lando Norris will fall short in his fight against Max Verstappen - but he reckons it'll be roles reversed in 2025.

The current F1 season is gearing up for a thrilling finale with just four races and two sprints left, starting with the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend. Norris trails Verstappen by only 47 points in the drivers' championship, having shown superior pace recently.

However, time could be running out for the 24-year-old Brit, who knows he'll need near-perfection to have a chance of claiming his maiden title. Looking ahead, ex-McLaren driver Blundell reckons his former employers will be favourites regardless next year.

The 58-year-old warned Norris that'll be when the pressure is truly on for him to capitalise. "I'm probably going to put my neck out and I'm actually going to go Verstappen and Red Bull to be the biggest losers in the '25 season," he told the Express.

"And I'm going to go Norris and McLaren to be the biggest gainers. I think there's going to be too big a void to fill in the short space of time for Red Bull, seeing where they're already at with their performance levels because they've definitely been eroded by others.

"I'm hopeful that McLaren would have learned enough to actually take the next step and then be the car that's the one to beat across the season. And then it's down to Norris to get the job done."

Questions have been raised about Norris' killer instincts, with Red Bull's top brass Helmut Marko taking repeated swipes at him, recently suggesting they're fortunate it's not Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of the McLaren.

Yet, Blundell - who competed in F1 for four seasons - sees this not as a failing on Norris' part, but rather as an understanding that he and his team will only develop through experience. And that's why they could have the edge over their rivals next time out.

He added: "I think there are still some areas where there needs to be some improvement, but relevant to experience, and I say experience respectfully within the environment of being able to win the championship. And I think Max obviously has had the car around him and the team support to be able to do that on a more consistent basis and Lando and McLaren are just growing back into that."

"The one factor for me is I think Lando needs to be just a little bit more aggressive on the circuit. That's just a case of making sure that doors get closed and making sure that there's a little bit more authority stamped on the situation. I think that's the only way that you'll give Max the signals that he needs to read to know that Lando means business."