McLaren Boss Issues Stern Warning on Verstappen and Red Bull Dominance

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has delivered a stark warning to his team, admitting that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are likely to be the strongest combination at every remaining F1 round this season. This comes after Verstappen secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix, further solidifying Red Bull's resurgent form.

Why it matters:

Andrea Stella's candid admission signals a significant shift in the competitive landscape, acknowledging Red Bull and Verstappen's undeniable return to dominance. For McLaren, a team that had shown immense promise and closed the gap significantly mid-season, this warning is a call to action. It underscores the immense challenge they face to maintain their momentum and challenge for victories against a reinvigorated rival.

The Details:

• Stella's warning stems from what he describes as the 'resurgent form' of the RB21 in Verstappen's hands, which he believes 'can't only be ascribed' to specific circuit characteristics.
• Verstappen secured pole position for the United States Grand Prix, with Lando Norris alongside him, and Oscar Piastri's second MCL39 a distant sixth.
• Following a double DNF for McLaren in the COTA sprint race, Verstappen is now only 33 and 55 points behind Norris and Piastri, respectively.
• Performance Gap: Stella conceded to media, including RacingNews365, that the gaps experienced now to Verstappen 'can't only be ascribed to the track layout.'
  • He stated, "I think it's 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."

Between the lines:

Stella had previously identified races like Sao Paulo, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi as venues where Red Bull should have an advantage. He reiterated this stance, adding that Verstappen and Red Bull are currently the 'most competitive combination' in F1, a fact 'confirmed in multiple layouts.' Despite this, he still believes McLaren should be able to exploit the strength of their car in those circuits, particularly where 'you can roll speed in the middle of the corner.'

What's next:

Stella explained that McLaren did not extract all available performance from the MCL39 in qualifying. He concluded with a stern warning, stating: "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." This sets a clear expectation for the team to find more performance and prepare for a relentless challenge in the final rounds of the season.