verstappen’s Austin Domination Intensifies F1 Title Pressure on McLaren
Austin, Texas - November 5, 2023 - Max Verstappen’s flawless Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has significantly ratcheted up the pressure on McLaren, who are now facing a resurgent Red Bull challenge in the Formula 1 World Championship battle. After a period where McLaren appeared to close the gap, Verstappen’s performance in qualifying and the sprint race has underscored Red Bull’s renewed competitiveness.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged red Bull’s current strength, describing them as the most “competitive combination” in F1. he noted the RB21’s aerodynamic issues, previously a weakness, have been addressed with updates to the floor and front wing post-summer break, diminishing McLaren’s track-dependent advantage. Stella admitted he anticipated a “smaller gap” to Red Bull in Austin,but now expects Verstappen and Red bull to be “competitive…possibly (having) the fastest car at all of the remaining races.”
The shift in momentum comes at a critical juncture. Lando Norris observed that Red Bull, along with Verstappen, “have been doing a very good job…and seemed to have caught us up a little bit,” adding that their consistent front-row starts are translating into significant points.
McLaren’s weekend in Austin has been further elaborate by damage sustained during the sprint race. Both Norris and Oscar Piastri required new rear ends on their cars, with Piastri also needing a front suspension replacement. This has severely limited valuable practice time. “I don’t think I’ve done more than three laps in a row, and not more than like 40 kilos of fuel,” Norris stated, highlighting the lack of long-run data ahead of the 56-lap Grand Prix.He conceded McLaren is “certainly on the back foot,” but stressed they will avoid using that as an excuse.
Piastri himself admitted things hadn’t “clicked” for him in Austin so far.
A victory for Verstappen in Sunday’s race would represent a complete weekend sweep and leave McLaren facing a crucial need to reassess their strategy. While the McLaren car remains fast and its drivers competitive, the performance advantage they held just months ago has diminished.
Despite the challenges, Fernando Alonso offered a note of caution, suggesting a single race result could dramatically alter the championship landscape. “There is a feeling that there is a championship…and than maybe tomorrow Lando wins with 30 seconds, and Oscar is second, and then Max has no chance because the car is not really up to speed,” Alonso mused. He emphasized that the car’s performance “from now to Abu Dhabi will dictate who wins.”
