McLaren boss Andrea Stella believes Max Verstappen will have a hard time sustaining a title challenge in Formula 1 in 2025 without an improvement to Red Bull’s car.
Verstappen starred in the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend as he usurped the two McLarens against all expectations to secure a sensational win from pole position.
The result has ensured the Dutchman has remained well in the hunt to acquire a fifth successive Drivers’ Championship as he now lies one point behind Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri, who sits another 12 points back in third place, appreciated that McLaren would be unwise to discount a driver with Verstappen’s decorated track record.
“I think our car is in a very strong place at the moment,” Piastri told media including Motorsport Week. “It’s still got some things that we want to try and improve.
“But I obviously know that Lando’s going to be strong opposition given we’re in the same car.
“And I know Max is going to be strong opposition, you know, given everything he’s achieved in his career.”
McLaren highlights Verstappen challenge
Stella has concurred with his erstwhile Ferrari colleague, as he suggested the reigning F1 Champion will struggle to bridge the current gap across an entire campaign.
“I think definitely the most important condition to pursue both championships is having the best car,” Stella said to select media including Motorsport Week post-race.
“So somehow this relates to what I said before it’s important that when we are not in condition to win we keep racing in a robust way.
“Okay, like if you can’t win, finish on the podium and in the long term if you keep performing like this, I think this will be rewarding.
“I think Max, at the moment, is somehow making the difference himself, but it’s very difficult to keep up for 24 events in a season if you don’t have the best car.”
McLaren not discounting Ferrari/Mercedes
The Italian has proclaimed that it would also be premature to disregard Ferrari and Mercedes until a representative handle on the pecking order has been established.
“We treat Max and Red Bull like [George] Russell,” he continued. “How can you discount [Charles] Leclerc/[Lewis] Hamilton?
“Like obviously Ferrari is struggling a little bit now, but we treat all these certainly within the spectrum of the full season, at least until we have stabilised a little bit.
“Because I think at the moment we are still falling within the variability of the circuits.
“We have Hamilton winning the Sprint in China, Russell being competitive in the race in China. Here we have Red Bull and Max.
“I think we’re still in a transient phase, we’ll have to see how things settle down.”
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