Stella: McLaren Drivers Could Have Performed Better, But Title Still 'In Our Hands'

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledges that Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris 'could have done a better job' in recent races. Despite Max Verstappen's strong resurgence, Stella remains confident that the Drivers' Championship is still within McLaren's control.

Why it matters:

After dominating the Constructors' Championship, McLaren faces an unexpected challenge for the Drivers' title from Max Verstappen. This shift in momentum puts pressure on Piastri and Norris to perform consistently in the remaining races, highlighting the intense competition at the top of Formula 1.

The details:

• Verstappen's Surge: Max Verstappen has won three of the last four races, narrowing the gap to leader Piastri to 40 points. Piastri is currently 14 points ahead of Norris.
• Closing the Gap: Verstappen was 104 points behind after the Dutch Grand Prix in August but has capitalized on a dip in Piastri's form.
• Austin Dominance: A Sprint and Grand Prix double in Austin led Verstappen to declare his chance at a fifth consecutive drivers' title.
• Remaining Season: With five rounds left, including two Sprint weekends, Stella sees opportunities to extend McLaren's lead.
• Driver Performance: Stella believes both Piastri and Norris recognize they "could have done a better job at some of the previous races."
• Recent Struggles: McLaren, after 12 wins in the first 15 GPs, has gone four races without a victory. Piastri notably crashed in Azerbaijan and caused a first-corner collision in the US GP Sprint.
• Team Mindset: Stella emphasizes maximizing performance and executing perfect race weekends, stating, "the outcome of this season and the Drivers' Championship is in our hands, it's not in someone else's hands."

Between the lines:

Norris has outscored Piastri in the last four races, narrowing the internal gap. Stella confirms McLaren will not favor one driver over the other unless one is mathematically out of contention. He cited historical examples like the 2007 and 2010 seasons where a third driver unexpectedly claimed the title, reinforcing the need to keep both drivers in contention.

What's next:

McLaren will not introduce any new upgrades for the remainder of the season, unlike Red Bull, who brought significant updates to Monza and Baku. The focus will be on maximizing the current car's potential and driver performance in the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix and subsequent races, live on Sky Sports F1. The team's ability to maintain composure and execute flawless weekends will be critical in securing the Drivers' Championship.