McLaren team boss Andrea Stella believes that Max Verstappen will struggle to keep his title hopes alive if Red Bull does not improve their car. The Dutchman claimed his first victory of the season in Japan, thereby narrowing the gap with Lando Norris in the championship to just one point. However, Stella is not yet ready to talk about a title fight; one swallow does not make a summer.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen delivered a true masterclass in Suzuka, Stella acknowledged. After a sensational lap in qualifying, he started from pole position and also crossed the finish line first on Sunday. This ended McLaren’s winning streak, which had won all races since the Abu Dhabi GP last year. The papayas had a more challenging weekend. Of course, they scored the most points thanks to a double podium, but the race was characterized by a conservative strategy.
Despite Verstappen’s impressive victory, McLaren seems to be the favorite for both world titles for the time being – a picture that team boss Andrea Stella also endorses. The Italian acknowledged Verstappen’s class after the race, but at the same time warned that even the Dutchman will fall short in the long run without a competitive car. “Max is currently making the difference himself,” Stella responded to Motorsport Week. “But it’s very difficult to keep that up for twenty-four races if you don’t have the best car.”
The Car is the Key to Success
Stella emphasized that a solid foundation is crucial in the battle for the world title. “If you can’t win, make sure you finish on the podium,” he explained. “If you do that consistently, you will be rewarded in the long run. But ultimately, the key to success is having the best car.” While the title fight seems to be focusing on McLaren and Verstappen for now, Stella refuses to rule out other top teams. He believes both Ferrari and Mercedes still have the potential to play a significant role in the rest of the season.
“How can you ignore Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton?” Stella rhetorically asked. “Ferrari is struggling right now, but we need to keep looking at the bigger picture. We are still in a transition phase. Hamilton has already proven himself during the sprint in Shanghai, and Russell has been competitive in the races so far. And here we have Verstappen and Red Bull suddenly back on top,” Stella concluded. “All signs indicate that we have not yet fully seen the true balance of power.”
