McLaren Boss Issues Warning After Verstappen & red bull Surge
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has cautioned his team to anticipate a strong challenge from Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing at every remaining Formula 1 race this season. Despite recent gains by McLaren, Stella acknowledges Red Bull’s resurgence, stating their current performance “can’t only be ascribed” to specific circuit characteristics, particularly following a dominant weekend in Austin.
Verstappen secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix, with Lando Norris starting alongside, while Oscar piastri qualified further back in sixth. This comes after a double DNF for McLaren in the sprint race at the circuit of the Americas, narrowing the championship gap – Verstappen is now 33 points behind Lando Norris and 55 points behind Oscar Piastri.
“I think we have to admit that, at the moment, Verstappen and Red Bull are the most competitive car, up to a certain point,” Stella told media, including RacingNews365. He conceded that while track layouts have played a role – citing Baku, Singapore, and Austin – the current performance deficit to Verstappen is larger than can be solely attributed to the circuit. “its clear that Red Bull has taken a step forward,and on our side,we need to look at how we can extract more out of the package.”
Stella previously identified the Brazilian, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix as potential opportunities for McLaren to leverage the MCL39’s strengths, particularly its performance in corners requiring roll speed. However, he emphasized that Red Bull’s improvements have been confirmed across multiple track configurations.
Addressing the struggles in Austin, Stella noted, “We have definitely been struggling in all the braking zones. However,I woudl have expected a smaller gap here,if anything.” He affirmed the team is analyzing data objectively, stating, “So, we have to look at the facts. We have to look at the numbers, just objectively…”
The 54-year-old acknowledged that McLaren didn’t fully maximize the MCL39’s potential in qualifying. Ultimately, Stella delivered a clear message: “But we need to be ready as a team, and as drivers, to Max and Red Bull being competitive and possibly the fastest car at every one of the remaining races.”
Should Verstappen win at COTA, it would be his third victory in the last four races, and a continuation of his winning streak against McLaren.
